Testimonials

The following are testimonials of people helped by Friends of Faith:

Jerry Blackshear, 55, was diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring of 2008 and had radiation treatment. She received a grant from the East Bay Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, a program funded solely by Friends of Faith:

"I went and bought things I really needed like shirts, bras, underwear, food and sheets for my bed. I also bought a step ladder because I needed that badly to help me get to my pantry. I'm on disability so the money really helped me tremendously. I was so flabbergasted by how everyone was helping me with the cancer. It really helped me not to be so scared anymore. I really hope other people can benefit like I did."

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Elaine "River" Green, 59, breast cancer survivor - served by the Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic, one of the organizations funded by Friends of Faith:

"When I got diagnosed with breast cancer, it was an agonizing experience. When illness takes over your life you become a different person. No one can come to your aid, even your own family. I needed support, but I didn't even know where to turn. If it hadn't been for Charlotte Maxwell, I don't know what I would have done. They gave me acupuncture, they gave me creams to treat the rashes that I got from radiation. I could have never afforded that, nor the meals they gave me, on my fixed income."

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Patricia Wright, 60, from Oakland, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2007. She received a grant from the East Bay Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, a program funded solely by Friends of Faith:

"I was in a bind. I had so many problems with my landlord. I told him I had cancer but he told me he had nothing to do with that. He wanted his house back so I had to find a new house. When they sent me the check for $500, I was able to put down what I needed for the new place. I didn't know what I was going to do. It really helped me a lot."

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Erin Dunn, 46, from Martinez, was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer. She received a grant from the East Bay Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, a program funded solely by Friends of Faith. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments:

"I had to leave work . I was like, oh my God, I hope I'm not going to lose my house on top of everything else. I had a little bit of money in my checking account but that $600 really saved me until my disability kicked in. Thank you so much!"