In a span of six unlucky years in the early 1990s, Barbara Hensley lost both her younger sister, Kathy, and her older sister, Patsy, to breast cancer. “They were tough years,” said Hensley. “Really tough years.”
During that time, Hensley flew from her Twin Cities home to Austin, Texas, and St. Louis, Mo., to be with her sisters as they went through treatment. She also helped their families make sure they had meals to eat and their bills were paid.
And though focused on her sisters, Hensley couldn’t help but notice all the other breast cancer patients who didn’t have the same support or resources.
“It really made an impression on me,” she said.
Hensley decided she wanted to do something to help under-served women facing breast cancer. So, in 2001, at the age of 54, she quit her corporate job and started Hope Chest for Breast Cancer. “I knew if I was going to do something, I had to just do it,” she said.
Hensley used her business background to come up with a unique model for her organization. She set up two retail stores – one in Orono and one in St. Paul – that would provide the foundation an ongoing revenue stream that would support its charitable programs and contributions.
The stores collect high-end donations of furniture, clothing and accessories for resale. Hensley and her team of employees and volunteers are picky about what donations they accept. “We’re looking for excellent quality,” she explained, noting the quality allows them to offer customers a great deal while raising money for Hope Chest.
With the monies raised, Hensley’s organization has partnered with eight hospitals and clinics around the Twin Cities to provide financially challenged women (and men) battling breast cancer emergency dollars for things like food and utilities. Doctors and nurses working with the patients have the discretion to provide the money as needed. There are no hoops to jump through or applications to fill out. The partnership agreement between Hope Chest and the medical institutions requires any administrative costs be absorbed by the hospital or clinic.
“It’s so gratifying,” said Hensley. “The doctors and nurses, they love it.”
To date, Hope Chest has provided more than $1.2 million in financial assistance to breast cancer patients.
More recently, Hensley has partnered with Open Arms to start a “meals that heal” program delivering organic, healthy meals to breast cancer patients and their families.
It’s all a labor of love for Hensley. “I’ve never had the pure enjoyment of working my tail off and making a difference before,” she said. “I feel so fortunate I’m able to do this.”
And what would Hensley’s sisters think about what she’s created?
“I wish they could be a part of this,” she said. “They would have loved these stores. They would have loved making this difference.”
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