Bosom Buddies selling turkeys, hams for Thanksgiving

Fundraiser helps local cancer patients

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Cullman County Bosom Buddies Foundation Vice President Judy Grissom and President Lori McGrath receive a $1,500 check from Cullman Fire Rescue Lt. Neville Franks Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 30, 2020. The Foundation is now selling Thanksgiving hams and turkeys ahead of the holiday. (Cullman Tribune file photo/Nick Griffin)

CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Bosom Buddies Foundation, the local nonprofit that assists Cullman area residents while they are in cancer treatment programs, is pre-selling fully-cooked Thanksgiving hams and turkeys. The organization has had a tough year fundraising-wise due to the cancellations of events such as its Little Pink Dress benefit and is relying on the ham and turkey fundraiser to help it continue providing vital services to cancer patients throughout Cullman County.

Foundation Vice President Judy Grissom said, “We’ve had quite a few orders, so it’s doing quite well so far.”

This year, fundraising has been tough for Bosom Buddies, Grissom explained, “All the events we had planned that we typically do had to be canceled. Our Little Pink Dress event that we were so excited about had to be canceled.”

The only fundraiser the nonprofit has been able to do this year was a letter campaign that Grissom said wasn’t as successful as they had hoped. And despite Downtown Nutrition generously donating proceeds from a special pink drink it sold, money has been hard to come by this year for Bosom Buddies.

“We are living on last year’s fundraiser so far because we haven’t taken in any money to speak of this year,” said Grissom. “It has been really tough and it’s hard to continue. In fact, we have talked about maybe having to reduce the amount of assistance that we give until we get some more funds coming in. It’s really important to do well with this one.”

All money raised by Bosom Buddies stays in Cullman to assist those currently undergoing cancer treatments of all types. According to Grissom, most of the people they help are living below the poverty level.

“Our assistance to them means whether or not they can get treatment,” she said.

Bosom Buddies also helps cancer patients with some bills, including utility bills. It also assists with gas cards, rent and other costs depending on individual needs.

Grissom stressed, “Everything is vetted through the nurse navigator at the Cullman hospital.”

Once a person’s needs are accessed, the nurse navigator sends a request for the organization to pay.

“We pay that bill for them,” she said. “We don’t give them money or cash. We pay that bill for them.”

Turkeys and hams can also be purchased for donation to those in need. Bosom Buddies will coordinate with the nurse navigator to select a family to receive the meal for Thanksgiving.

Said Grissom, “If people want to donate one, that would be wonderful.”

The slow-smoked 11-13-pound turkeys and 8-9-pound hams will be prepared by Freddie Day Catering. Pre-orders will be accepted until Nov. 13 (must be paid in full when order is placed)

  • Cost: Turkey $25 Ham $35
  • Curbside pickup: Nov. 21 from 10-11 a.m. and Nov. 25 from 4-5 p.m.
  • Location: Freddie Day Catering 1628 Second Ave. NW
  • For ordering information, contact Louise Cole at 256-503-5301 or Judy Grissom at 256-347-5993.

Email ccbbfinc@gmail.com or visit www.CullmanBosomBuddies.com or www.facebook.com/CullmanCountyBosomBuddiesFoundation for more information.

“Established in 2013, the mission of the Cullman County Bosom Buddies Foundation, a 501(c) (3) organization, is to raise money for the purpose of assisting Cullman area residents while they are in a cancer treatment program.  We provide need based assistance for day to day living expenses such as utility bills, transportation costs to and from treatment, food cards and other approved needs.  We pay the bills directly; no cash is given.  This assistance is for approved patients regardless of the type of cancer they may have or the location of their treatment center.”

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