Students also get community service hours for school

I am a 48 year old mother of three beautiful girls. My husband Gary was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008. It was devastating news to me and the girls. The diagnosis was harsh, yet the prognosis was promising, so we kept our hopes up.

I remember that day I admitted Gary in the hospital for a 30-day induction of his first protocol of chemo-therapy. I was confused, anxious, and fearing for how I would take care of my family, home and bills.   Gary had always been the primary source of income.  I had been a stay at home Mom for 20 years.

Gary was put in remission and life went on as normal, until the following March 2009 when we got the devastating news of his relapse.  At that time, there was another 30 day induction which landed us in ICU, dialysis and many more complications.  

One day, I left the hospital wandering around to purchase necessities for Gary’s stay.  Almost as if it was meant to be, I ran across the Hugs and Kisses Center – a place where Palm Beach County residents go to support families like mine who battle cancer.

Once again my husband managed to overcome the treatment and the disease; we thought it was over.

It was during his second remission when we were asked if Gary would do a stem cell transplant to help keep him in remission.  The risk of the transplant was minimal considering the benefit. So, of course he jumped at the chance to prolong his life with his children. During the first stage of the transplant, we lost Gary.

It was devastating, the doctors were shocked and our family in disbelief.  His death on August 14, 2010 was a shock to us all.   But the harsh reality was the fate of me and my girls.   What was I to do? How would I get by?  No income!  A home! No vehicle!

My community stepped up to help us, including everyone who donates buttons, time or money to Hugs and Kisses, Inc.  They were able to help me by paying a month of my mortgage which was a lifesaver.  It’s been five months since my husband’s death.  We are still strongly emotionally and financially distraught – in ways I cannot begin to describe.   But, during some of our darkest moments, when the worrying was unbearable, we were able to get relief from Hugs and Kisses.

Hugs and Kisses, Inc. held their Grand Opening of the new Hugs and Kisses Center on Friday, February 5th. The event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Palms West Chamber of Commerce at 5:00 PM and was followed by standing-room-only attendance during a catered Open House until 8:00 PM.

Founders Peter Morris, Jean Morris, Evelyn Strunk surrounded by volunteers

Funds raised for Hugs and Kisses, Inc. cover living expenses for cancer patients in desperate financial need.  Students also qualify for scholarships based on their commitments to Hugs and Kisses.  And scholarships are also available for children of families affected by cancer.

“This is an exciting time for us, and we’re so happy that we can share this with the community at large,” said Jean Morris, founder of the Royal Palm Beach-based charity organization.

Hugs and Kisses raises donations to cover living expenses for cancer patients in desperate financial need. Teenagers volunteer and run all functions of the Center, which produces our own unique, trademarked bracelets that we give to our donors. They are also mentored in all parts of the business including accounting, finance, marketing, fulfillment, and website development, among others.

‘Right now, in your community, there are people who can survive their cancers – with existing technology – if they could afford to hold on,’ explained Hugs and Kisses Director Peter Morris.  ‘But if they can’t afford
to hold on, there’s always Hugs and Kisses.’

On hand to initiate the ceremony was Debi Leed, Palms West Chamber of Commerce Membership Director. ‘This is a great way to give support to our members, and to initiate them into the Central Palm Beach County community.’ Palms West Chamber of Commerce is a leadership organization which advocates for a healthy business environment, providing member services, benefits, education, and information for Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Greenarcres, Loxahatchee Groves and The Acreage/Loxahatchee. Hugs and Kisses is also registered with HandsOn Network, which allows
volunteers to participate in the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program, giving earning for volunteers a free day at Walt Disney World. Among other activities, The organization hosts ‘Parties with a Purpose’, where families or friends design and make Hugs and Kisses bracelets. Such is the kind of information prospective volunteers, their families and other community members heard at the open house event.

“If you’re interested, come in and see what we’re about,” Morris says. Those interested can attend in person at the location: 10131 Southern Boulevard in Royal Palm Beach, on the NW corner of Southern Boulevard and State Road 441.

*For more information, visit http://www.hugsandkissesinc.org.

Hugs and Kisses Center

Please join us in celebrating our Grand Opening of the brand new Hugs and Kisses Center on Friday, February 5th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

• On the NW corner of Southern Boulevard and State Road 441.
(Between K-Mart and Bealls)
• Out of Towners can visit us during the event for live updates at:

FACEBOOK Hugs And Kisses, Inc.
TWITTER @HugsKissesInc
WEBSITE www.HugsAndKissesinc.org.

• Please RSVP to info@hugsandkissesinc.org or 561-819-9471.

The event kicks off the with the Palms West Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting at 5:00 PM followed by an Open House until 8:00 PM.

Donations are NOT REQUIRED but are ALWAYS WELCOME. In just one year, we began as a Relay for Life team and now have our own operations facility that evolved out of sheer demand.

What We Do At this location, teenagers volunteer and run all functions of the Hugs and Kisses Center which produces our own unique, trademarked bracelets that we give to our donors. They are also mentored in all parts of the business including accounting, finance, marketing, fulfillment, website development, etc.

Why It’s Important Right now, in your community, there are people who can survive their cancers – with existing technology – if they could afford to hold on. But if they can’t afford to hold on, there’s always HUGS and KISSES.

Funds raised for Hugs and Kisses, Inc. cover living expenses for cancer patients in desperate financial need. Students also qualify for scholarships based on their commitments to Hugs and Kisses. And scholarships are also available for children of families affected by cancer.

Earn a Free Day at Disney: We are registered at vop.handsonnetwork.org so you can volunteer in the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program. Among other activities, we host “Parties with a Purpose” where families or friends design and make HUGS and KISSES bracelets.

Now Don’t Keep This a Secret. Please tell your friends and family wherever they are as our programs benefit people across America. Funds are always returned to the region from which they originate. Grants to Hugs and Kisses, Inc. allow us to assist patients beyond any amount of donations raised.