Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Third Friday for June was “a summer kickoff block party” Friday night, but Main Street Warsaw also partnered with Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana to raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit.
Nora Christiansen, Main Street Warsaw events coordinator, said, “We have a great band out here playing. A lot of free activities for the kids, a few food trucks going on and just a great time for everybody.
“We also are partnering with Cancer Services, and so proceeds from vendors are going toward Cancer Services this evening, and donations are welcome. They’re just sharing what they do and putting it out there for everybody.”
Stacey Stumpf, director of development at Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana, explained, “We provide support services to anybody who has cancer. We serve 11 counties in Northeast Indiana and, fortunately, recently we opened an office in Warsaw to better serve people, make our services more easily accessible.”
That office is at 2190 N. Pointe Drive, Warsaw.
“And when I say we provide support services, that means financial assistance, help getting to treatment, transportation assistance, equipment to help somebody safely recover from treatment at home, but also emotional support - so mental health counseling, support groups. Basically, anything that’s going to make that cancer journey just a little easier, we’re here to support,” Stumpf said. “Not just the person who has cancer, but also their family, their friends, their co-workers. Just make it a little bit less cumbersome, make the cancer experience just a little bit less difficult.”
She said she has yet to meet somebody who doesn’t have a friend, family member or a loved one who’s had cancer.
“And sometimes it can feel very helpless. You don’t know what to do to support them, and I’m hopeful that we offer a really easy answer because we are completely community supported. We are the community’s response, the community’s answer when somebody has cancer, so just call Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana,” Stumpf stated.
People are always surprised at the different things Cancer Services offer that are helpful, she continued.
The easiest way to get in touch with them is through their website at cancer-services.org and their phone number (1-800-484-9560) is there. They also have a Facebook page.
“We try to make it super simple, no barriers, no problems. Anyone touched by cancer, you give us a call,” she said.
During Third Friday, Stumpf said they were celebrating local cancer survivors in Warsaw and Kosciusko County.
“We’re also here to build awareness of the services that are available at Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana. We opened an office (in Warsaw) about a year ago, people are still finding out about us, and when they do they’re sort of amazed that this is here in Warsaw, available, at no cost, so we want more people to know about it, so we’re hopeful that being here on Third Friday will spread the word and build the general support in the community for people who are fighting cancer,” Stumpf said.
Another great cause and music could be found just a few blocks away at Central Park.
The Classic Rock Concert Benefit for Kosciusko County Riley Kids Fund started at 7 p.m. Friday at Glover Pavilion in Central Park. The band Recess opened at 6:30 p.m., with Steven Adler from Guns N’ Roses headlining at 8 p.m.
The July Third Friday will be Main Street Warsaw’s “Downtown Hoedown,” that is being planned now, Christiansen said. That will coordinated with the Country Concert for St. Jude at Glover Pavilion in Central Park. Confederate Railroad performs at 7 p.m. July 18, with the Kentucky Headhunters taking the stage at 8:30 p.m.
“Their headliner goes on at 8:30, so you can come here (for Third Friday) and join us before,” she said.
Third Friday is 5 to 8 p.m.
To find out more about Main Street Warsaw and Third Friday, visit their Facebook and other social media pages.
