Our unsung hero is one of our deaconesses, Sandy Saurbaugh, of the Bloomington/Normal, Illinois, congregation.

When Sandy was widowed, she started searching for areas of service. She and her husband had been very active in serving the Church and community. Now she started a new phase of her life and service was a natural interest for her.

Her latest gift of volunteering is with the Hematology Association of Central Illinois. Association volunteers do a variety of services. Their focus is to brighten the lives of cancer patients while they are going through this challenging time. They help them with information and bring them lunch when they are hooked up to chemo for several hours. They become caring friends. Sandy mentioned the ultimate expression of generosity is not in giving of what you have, but in giving of who you are. Cancer patients need people who care, listen and brighten their day at a very difficult time. Sandy quietly serves in so many other ways, but this project has given her an opportunity to show love and service to those in great need.

This same group also has another helpful project: Cancer awareness bracelets. The volunteers, like Sandy, have made thousands of bracelets. All the money after expenses goes to the cancer patients with financial need. Some need help with payment of prescriptions, lunch money and money for transportation. The money is used to take one more burden off the patient.