At our August 27, 2026 meeting, Morning Star Rotary welcomed Gina Stano, Executive Director of the Community Support Community of Greater Lehigh Valley. Gina shared that CSCGLV has served the region for 24 years, offering all programs and services free to anyone touched by a cancer diagnosis, not just patients, but caregivers, family, and friends, across several counties (804 people served last fiscal year). Services include individual, couples, and group counseling; weekly and monthly cancer-specific support groups; mindfulness offerings like meditation, Tibetan singing bowls, and yoga; a wig salon that's often a member's first point of entry; and a grief group open to anyone experiencing loss.
About 55% of referrals come through health network partnerships with St. Luke's and LVHN, and the organization runs entirely on community donations, grants, and fundraising events such as Wings of Hope, the Memorial Golf Tournament, and Golf for Cancer. Gina spoke personally about her mother's breast cancer survivorship and her grandmother's loss to the disease, stressing early detection and self-advocacy, and shared that CSCGLV is developing a new professional services line for 2027, including house cleaning, landscaping, and pet care support for members in treatment.
How Rotarians Can Help and Support
- Share CSCGLV's information with anyone touched by a cancer diagnosis; all programs are free.
- Support or attend Wings of Hope, September 13 (butterfly release fundraiser).
- Consider a gift toward the new professional services fund (house cleaning, landscaping, pet care for members in treatment), donations can be restricted to that purpose through CSCGLV directly.
- Encourage members and family to keep up with annual screenings and PSA/mammogram testing.
