Little Red Door works to “fill in the gaps” for clients by providing basic information about cancer health, the importance of timely follow-up, and community resources to help meet basic needs before, during and after treatment. Services include, but not limited to providing contact and program information for local and national resources that help address basic needs, such as transportation, support, rent/utilities, treatment coverage, food, etc.
Services are available to residents of the greater Indianapolis area who qualify based on residency, household size and household income.
Little Red Door brings warmth to cancer patient
By Jenny Anchondo, Fox59
Rhonda Whittington’s furnace broke just as she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and she did not have the money to replace it. It is bad enough not having heat, but going through chemo and radiation made it difficult to regulate her temperature. Little Red Door Cancer Agency workers made it their mission to help Rhonda after hearing her story. “It just gave me a whole new outlook on life,” said Rhonda. “I see things differently, I view people differently.”
Little Red Door called companies to let them know Rhonda was working during the day, having cancer treatments in the afternoon and coming home to a bitter cold house, all while raising a teenage daughter. “My impression from Rhonda is that she isn’t the kind of person who really asks for help a lot, but I was trying to tell her ‘It’s ok,’” said Michelle Hallmark, Little Red Door “Sometimes you do need help and people want to help and it’s really gratifying for Williams Comfort Air to help her and for us to help her during this time.” This time, Rhonda knew she needed the help. “Well, with a compromised immune system, I probably would have gotten really sick,” said Rhonda. Williams Comfort Air donated and installed a brand new furnace.
This is what Little Red Door’s client navigation program is all about: Filling in the gaps for low income, uninsured or underinsured cancer patients. “The thing about cancer treatment is that you still have to meet your daily needs and a lot of things sometimes get put to the back burner so not only do we try that with insurance but also any other needs they have,” said Rhonda. “The kindness that comes out of people’s hearts in times like this, it just lets you know what America is really about.”