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Kids with cancer in the hospital receive food deliveries

Posted at 1:49 PM, May 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-05 18:25:24-04

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Children battling cancer hospitalized at Palm Beach Children's Hospital at St. Mary's are getting food deliveries to help brighten up their day.

Matt Wilson with Eastpointe Country Club made the food delivery a reality.

His son battled cancer a few years ago.

The organization Pediatric Oncology Support Team, known as POST helped his family cope.

Now he's helping POST. "Donating a few meals is the least we can do and food has a way to bring people together and it's one of those small resources that we kind of take for granted. And with our great club and ability to help,we wanted to make sure we did that'."

POST provides financial, emotional and physical support for kids battling cancer.

But since they can't visit the kids and give them hugs and play with them, Dr. Barbara Abernathy says they turned to food. "When COVID came along we had to pivot and created a rapid response and part of our rapid response is hot meals for young cancer patients. Once the kids in the hospitals were in lockdown, then the parent can't come and go. Kids can't get those special meals that perk up their day," she said.

Signs in the hospital window show how much the kids look forward to the meals, some able to enjoy eating with their parents.

Dr. Abernathy says that she tries to have food delivered every day for the kids for lunch and for breakfast whenever it's possible, "Food is connection so we reached out to local restaurants and the response has been overwhelming."