The “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Cancer Assistance Fund has been established to assist individuals or families who have been diagnosed with cancer and currently receiving treatment (chemotherapy or radiation).
Eligibility
You may be eligible for assistance through the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Cancer Assistance Fund if you meet the following criteria:
•Household income has decreased due to a cancer diagnosis in the family OR household expenses have increased due to a cancer diagnosis in the family
•Applicant must reside within one of WCGCC 13 counties: Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Meriwether, Muscogee, Schley, Stewart, Talbot, Taylor, Troup, Webster, Lee and Russell (Alabama).
•Application is submitted with a healthcare provider’s letter – see application process below
Covered Expenses/Types of Assistance
•Payments for household bills (i.e. utilities, rent/mortgage, property taxes and car payments, and gas cards…)
•Gift cards for groceries (Publix, Piggly Wiggly, Winn Dixie), and gas, etc. (Based on funding availability)
•Prescription Assistance
•Out of town lodging required for treatment
Copies of all recent statements and bills to be paid and a letter from your healthcare provider MUST accompany the application and must be turned in by the 5th of every month in order to be processed for that month. If the application packet is not turned in by the 5th deadline then it will be processed in the next month.
Under no circumstances will checks be issued directly to an individual applicant. Payments will only be made directly to landlords, utility companies, financial institutions, etc. A notarized letter from landlords must be submitted along with application if requesting rent/mortgage assistance.
Once approval is given, the applicant is responsible and/or required to contact their landlords, etc. to provide status of their pending assistance through the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors Cancer Assistance Fund”.
Limitations
Once a request is approved, the individual will not be eligible to submit another request. One time assistance only.
The “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Cancer Assistance Fund does not cover the following expenses:
•hospital and doctor bills
•house phone or cell phone
•cable
•credit cards
•loan companies
•and other bills as determined by the allocations committee
Limitations to the coverage are subject to change based on availability of funds. Always use the most up-to-date application and check for any changes in coverage area or coverage limitations via the website.
“Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Cancer Assistance Fund Referral Process
A request for assistance should be submitted to “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Cancer Assistance Fund by a physician, nurse, community advocate, or other healthcare professional (the referral source).
The application is available at WCGCC office and John B. Amos Cancer Center and other community partners or download application from link below.
Attach copies of all recent bills and statements. If current bills are not attached, the application WILL NOT be processed. A complete application packet (application, current bills and provider letter) must be turned in by the 5th of the month in order to be processed for that month. If the application packet is not turned in by the 5th deadline then it will be processed the following month.
The application must be signed by the applicant.
Applications can be submitted by the following:
- FAX entire application including bills to 706-660-1829
- E-mail the entire scanned application to cancerassistancefund@wcgcc.org
- Mail to 633 19th Street, Suite B, Columbus, GA. 31901.
- The Allocations Committee DOES NOT meet on a regular schedule; therefore, we encourage you to submit your request one month in advance. If you would like to apply for assistance from “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Cancer Assistance Fund, please contact your healthcare provider. If you or your healthcare provider has any questions, please call 706-660-0317.