Canadian parents should contact their provincial Department of Social Services for further information. There are numerous service organizations that can help families in need. Often, all a family has to do is describe their plight, and good Samaritans appear. In addition, local philanthropic organizations exist in many communities. To locate them, call your local Health Department, speak to the social worker, and ask for help.
Organized fund raising Many communities rally around a child with cancer by organizing a fund.
Help is given in various ways, ranging from mason jars in local stores to an organized drive using all of the local media. There are many pitfalls to avoid in fund raising, and great care must be exercised to protect the privacy of the sick child as much as possible. If you are contemplating starting a fund, read Sheila Peterson's A Special Way to Care . If your child is on or seeking Social Security or Medicaid eligibility, funds must be held in a special needs trust and paid directly to providers. If the family receives the money or the child's Social Security number is used to open the bank account, the child can lose both Social Security and Medicaid.