St. Agnes CYO raised thousands for Hewlett House

The St. Agnes Catholic Youth Organization raised $6,500 during its annual breast cancer awareness fundraiser last month and some of its members visited the facility where all of the money was donated.

The girls basketball teams from grades 4-8 raised the money by selling pink halo headbands, selling refreshments during all of the home games during the weekend of Nov. 12 and at the annual St. Agnes coaches’ basketball game.

Coach Patricia Basile said the organization raised $6,300 during the festivities and another $200 afterward.

All of the money was sent to the 1 in 9 Hewlett House, a non-profit community learning resource center that provides cancer patients and their families a free, warm and welcoming place to obtain resources, education and information. It is open to all who enter without referral and at no cost.

Members of the fifth-grade team visited the house on Dec. 9 to present the check to director Geri Barish.  The girls received a tour of the house and saw first hand how last year’s donations were put to use with an updated wig/head covering room.  

"The wig room stood out for because that's the room where women can go in and come out feeling prettier on the inside and out," said Valentina Casales.

The Hewlett House looks like any ordinary house from the outside, but the girls learned about the work that goes on inside and how it relies on the generosity of donors to survive.  They also learned about the importance of giving back to the community without expecting anything in return.  

“I think it's really cool how they took a 300-year-old house and turned it into a great place for people who are sick to come and learn about treatments and other things available to them,” said Kathleen Conlon.