Well hello, snow. Welcome to February in MD!
It is quite a privilege to sit in the director’s chair of this ministry. It is experiences like I have had this week that confirm the vision and affirm all the efforts that we have put toward Pinked over the years. In June of 2019, I received a request from Deneen to have a mastectomy kit shipped to her home in Baltimore. In 2005, Deneen faced a lumpectomy and radiation as part of her first journey through breast cancer treatment. Heartbreakingly, in 2019 (fourteen years after her initial diagnosis), she was told she had a recurrence and would be facing a mastectomy surgery. Deneen was receiving her treatment at Mercy Medical Center, and one of the lovely nurses at the breast center shared information about Pinked Perspective with her. This is when her connection with Pinked began. This week, a year and a half since our initial contact, we received two beautiful boxes full of pink items that Deneen has been collecting for us to include in kits going out to others facing breast cancer treatment.
As I mentioned in January’s newsletter, the word that has been put on my heart for 2021 is “Vision”. Specifically I am praying that I can see clearly that The Lord is always working despite these hard days in which we find ourselves. Not only did the arrival of these packages on my doorstep remind that He is most definitely on the move, but it also reminded me of my original vision of why I wanted to start Pinked Perspective in 2013. I think it is best illustrated by the words of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (a verse that is included in every breast cancer kit letter). Because of the support and love she felt from the kit she received, it was Deneen’s desire to care for others facing the similar hardship. I absolutely love the trickle down effect.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Pinked Update:
This past Friday, our Board of Directors met via Zoom to celebrate the incredible provisions of 2020 and plan for what lies ahead in 2021. As director, I continue to be humbled by the ways that our mission has been supported by so many. We thank you for the ways that you make it possible for Pinked Perspective to be able to provide guidance and encouragement to those facing the unknowns of surgery during these most unsettling times.
After looking over our expenses from the last year it was determined that almost 10% of our total expenses go toward the cost of shipping our breast cancer kits to recipients all over the U.S.. Recently on January 24th, shipping costs increased. If you would like to donate to Pinked to help cover general shipping costs, visit our Support Page. In our current Amazon-centric climate it is often easy to forget that it does indeed cost money to transport goods from one place to another!
And, speaking of Amazon, you can always check out our Pinked Perspective Amazon WishList for our current needs with respect to kit supplies. As always, we will continue to keep the Amazon Wishlist up-to-date. And if you don’t yet support an organization through Amazon Smile, please consider designating Pinked Perspective to benefit from your Amazon Smile purchases.