OhioHealth is pleased to announce the launch of a “Box of Hope” at the OhioHealth Physician Group Radiation Oncology Building, located at 330 Glessner Avenue in Mansfield.
The program provides a food pantry stocked with food, personal care items, and clothing for cancer patients.
“This pantry is more than just equipment and supplies,” said Elissa Bryant, Oncology Program Manager at Mansfield and OhioHealth Shelby Hospital. “It represents compassion, dignity, and hope for patients facing the financial burdens of cancer and treatment.”
The idea originated with Michelle Shafer, a senior oncology social worker, who noticed that patients needed more than just medication. She began storing essential supplies in a cardboard box under her desk, which eventually evolved into the “Box of Hope.”
Patients use a selection card that lists common treatment symptoms and items that may help alleviate them. More expensive products, such as mouthwash designed for dry mouth, address more specific side effects.
Bryant emphasized, “This isn’t just about the product; it’s about restoring stability and hope to patients at their most vulnerable moments.”
The program, supported by the OhioHealth Foundation and community donations, aims to continue serving patients for years to come.
Those wishing to donate can donate non-perishable food, clothing, and personal care items to the Radiation Oncology Building across from Mansfield Hospital, or send a check payable to the OhioHealth Foundation and marked “Box of Hope.”
