October 2022 Update:
Many women continue to be served by the volunteers from the Zonta Club of Jamestown at Lily’s Hope. During the pandemic, services were naturally curtailed, but, there has been an increase in requests for wigs. A core of volunteers assist women who need a wig and also offer them scarves, turbans, tote bags and most importantly, a compassionate ear to listen.
As times change so do our services while others remain the same. We are no longer able to accept donation of used wigs. We are grateful for the continued support from the ladies from Randolph, NY Under the leadership of Sylvia Salvaggio, they make quilted tote bags which are given to each woman. Also unchanged is our policy that these services are free of charge. All is made possible through the generous donations from our community.
Lily’s Hope recently relocated to UPMC at 207 Foote Avenue in Jamestown. There is a lovely boutique area just inside the Foote Avenue entrance. Hours are by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling 716-450-1675.
News & Events
JAMESTOWN: Zonta Club of Jamestown is overjoyed to announce the donation of $1,000 from the Breast Cancer Support Group to Lily’s Hope. Lily’s Hope is a free resource in Chautauqua County for women experiencing hair loss due to a medical diagnosis or treatment. At Lily’s Hope, women can receive a free wig, cap, hat or other accessories as available. Zonta Club will utilize the donation toward more new wigs and medical accessories.
Recently, Zonta Club expanded this offering to women in Warren, PA and surrounding counties as requested. To make an appointment, one only has to call the UPMC Chautauqua WCA Cancer Treatment Center at (716) 487-0141. Lily’s Hope is located at the Jones Memorial Health Center, 51 Glasgow Avenue in Jamestown.
For more information about Lily’s Hope or Zonta Club of Jamestown, visit ZontaJamestown.org or find our community pages on Facebook.
“Lily’s Hope” at the WCA Cancer Treatment Center here in Jamestown is a resource for women who live in, or are being treated in, Chautauqua County for a medical diagnosis where they are losing their hair. This resource provides women with a wig, hat, cap, scarf or turban, free of charge. In some cases if a woman cannot find a wig at Lily’s Hope that she likes the Zonta Club will order a wig of her choosing for her. Thus far, the Zonta Club has given out over 250 wigs to women in our area.
The Zonta Club also accepts donations of new or gently used wigs which go to BOCES for cleaning and styling before being displayed at the Cancer Treatment Center at Jones Memorial Hospital.
BOCES has been donating their time and talents to assist with the wigs. Supplies have been donated for women from many local businesses as well. Cala Lily Yarn Shop has directed knitting projects toward Lily’s Hope. As well, the new “whispers boutique” at Patient’s Pharmacy on Main St. features the Lily’s Hope service.
If you, or someone you know needs a wig, hat, cap or turban, they may contact the WCA Cancer Treatment Center for an appointment by calling 664-8670.
January 2012 – Anonymous donation –
In this blessed holiday season, “Lily’s Hope” by the Women of Zonta, has received a very generous anonymous donation of $1,000 for wigs and supplies. Lily’s Hope is housed at the WCA Hospital Cancer Treatment Center at Jones Memorial Hospital and provides FREE wigs, hats, turbans and scarves to women who are going through Cancer Treatment in Chautauqua County, or who live in Chautauqua County and are in need of any of these items. Established by the Zonta Club of Jamestown in November 2010, “Lily’s Hope” has provided over 60 Wigs, Caps, tubans hats and scarves to local women.
“I would like to extend Zonta’s gratitude to our anonymous donor, and to all the generous donors who have contributed to this very worthy cause. Your support provides the means to further services to women in Chautauqua County who are in need at a very challenging time in their lives.” said Lily Olson, name-sake for “Lily’s Hope.”
September 2016: Sharon Salvaggio (PICTURED), talented quilter from a local group and cancer survivor, stands with the recent donation to Lily’s Hope. The quilting group have donated about 30 bags each year for the past three years to women who are attending Lily’s Hope for their wig, cap, hat or scarf. Women who live in, or are being treated in Chautauqua County can come to Lily’s Hope for these and more supplies – FREE of charge – due to the generosity of the Zonta Club of Jamestown and our community.
Lily’s Hope is located at the WCA Cancer Treatment Center housed within the Jones Memorial Health Center on Glasgow Avenue. If you would like to make an appointment for a fitting, please call (716) 664-8670.
Breast Cancer Support Group surprises Zonta Club with a check for “Lily’s Hope”
More Information
If you are going through cancer treatments, you’ve already had enough. The big C is capital S-C-A-R-Y. And no one knows that more than those who have gone through it, are going through it, or watched someone battle it head on. All the pokes and prods, all the blood work and tests. The sick feelings, the worry and time spent wondering. Time from work. Time from family. And then there’s the physical issues. Not feeling well. Not knowing what to expect next. Then, loss of hair with chemotherapy.
Lily Olson, a past President of the Zonta Club of Jamestown, breached the topic at a regular business meeting a little over 5 years ago this month. A friend of hers was a nurse who drove patients to cancer treatment appointments and remarked to Lily that on top of all they are dealing with, they have to drive to Buffalo or Erie to get a wig so they could feel better about how they looked. Lily came up with a great idea to help those women so they wouldn’t have to do that extra drive. A room, locally, where women could get a wig or hat. She asked the club if we could do something – that we SHOULD do something. The club set to work. A few months later, and with a collaboration with WCA Hospital’s wellness program, “Lily’s Hope” was born.
At the Cancer Treatment Center at Jones Memorial Hospital, there is now a room called “Lily’s Hope.” It is stocked with donated and new wigs, caps, hats, scarves, bags, pillows and other fine accessories. Lily’s Hope has really taken on a life of it’s own, garnering monetary donations of 100’s and up to several $1,000’s of dollars from the club’s fundraising efforts and the community. Knitting clubs have donated knitted items. Quilters have formed guilds and quilted items for patients. Children in a local middle school have made pillows. There’ve been fundraisers by companies, community groups and individuals. There is even a soup contest each year in May!
Meeting with a cancer patient and looking at their face as they try on wigs and are fit for hats for their journey is truly an amazing experience. The range of emotion is there. The excitement of something new and fun. The sadness of the illness. The patience of trying multiple wigs to find the right one. But then the delight and thankfulness of receiving this piece of hope for free…. breath-taking.
In just 4 years, Lily’s Hope has helped well over 300 women in the area. More people have yet to hear about it. The Zonta Club is working to spread the word with articles, posters, cards and a Facebook page. And although the club’s ultimate hope is that the demand will decrease as cancer research seeks to find cures, there is THIS perpetual Hope: That this free resource will be available to help those going through their cancer journey to have a more pleasant one. That’s “Lily’s Hope.”
To schedule an appointment for Lily’s Hope call the WCA Cancer Treatment Center at 664-8670.