Holiday Shoppe
The Need
The holiday season is meant to be a time of joy, but for families battling childhood cancer, it is often overshadowed by overwhelming financial stress and isolation. The reality of a diagnosis means one parent often has to stop working, and even with insurance, the average cost associated with childhood cancer treatment can be staggering—upwards of $833,000 when factoring in medical costs and lost parental wages. This leaves families facing financial hardship and the constant, crushing burden of simply trying to survive.
Furthermore, cancer treatment isolates the entire family. Hospital stays mean missing treasured family traditions, while siblings often feel alone, struggling with a dramatic shift in family focus and routine. We've heard from so many parents that they deeply miss the normalcy and joy of being able to shop for and pick out presents for their children. They crave the simple act of creating that special Christmas magic.
Our Solution
With these struggles in mind, we are thrilled to announce that we are hosting the B.I.G. Love Holiday Shoppe in four cities this year: Houston, San Antonio, Killeen, and Austin!
This special event is our way of giving back the joy and dignity of the season. We are inviting parents and caregivers from childhood cancer families to come to our Shoppe, where they can shop and select gifts—at absolutely no cost—for all of their children, patients and siblings alike.
Recently, a dad shared how meaningful the Holiday Shoppe was for his family. For months, his wife was worried she'd need a second job just to afford holiday gifts—an added stress on top of their child's diagnosis. They expected a single toy, but were blown away when B.I.G. Love was able to bless their entire family with gifts. Nine months later, his family still talks about the day their Christmas was saved.
How to Help
To open this incredibly memorable event to the most families possible and to alleviate the immense financial and emotional toll of their journey, we need your urgent support!
We are seeking:
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Gifts and/or sponsors: New, unwrapped gifts for all ages, from infants to teens.
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Volunteers: To serve as personal shoppers and gift wrappers.
Your contribution directly helps a parent reclaim a piece of normalcy and ensures a child battling cancer—and their often-overlooked siblings—experiences the unconditional joy of the holidays.
"B.I.G. Love Cancer Care has been there for us all along the way. Throughout countless surgeries, procedures and hospital stays. They have brought hope to us even in the darkest of days."