When 69-year-old Helen Dawkins was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May 2023, her world was turned upside down. Helen had spent over 40 years working in retail and as a makeup artist – a career she loved for its connection to people. Her diagnosis led to a surgery at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte to remove part of her pancreas, stomach and gallbladder. But she quickly realized this was a battle not just for her health, but for her overall stability. in Charlotte to remove part of her pancreas, stomach and gallbladder. But she quickly realized this was a battle not just for her health, but for her overall stability.
“I had just downsized from a three-bedroom home to a one-bedroom apartment. Everything was still in boxes when I got sick,” Helen says. “I couldn’t work, and I became overwhelmed and depressed. Cancer doesn’t just affect your body; it disrupts every part of your life.”
Since Helen lives in Anson County, she was referred to Dr. Z. Luke Farmer at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute Union for six months of chemotherapy following her surgery. It was there she met Erin Kingston, a social worker who became a lifeline.
“Erin was like a breath of fresh air,” Helen says. “She saw how nervous I was and realized how much I was struggling. Some people don’t understand how devastating cancer can be – not just medically, but emotionally and financially. Erin helped me navigate through everything.”
Recognizing Helen’s immediate need for essentials, Kingston reached out to the nursing team at Levine Cancer Institute Union. Led by Katie Comer, clinical nurse supervisor, and Danielle Massey, nurse navigator, the team quickly rallied to gather donations for Helen. Just before Christmas, they surprised her with $600 worth of supplies, including bedding, clothing and gift cards.
“What they did for me … it really touched my heart. It makes me cry just thinking about it,” Helen says. “Everything they gave me was exactly what I needed. The love I felt from them was overwhelming. All I could do was fall on my knees and thank God.”
The Patient Pantry is born
Helen’s story became the catalyst for a larger movement. Seeing how necessities could ease the burden on patients like Helen, the team decided to create a sustainable solution: the Patient Pantry.
“A lot of our patients struggle to afford everyday items. But our infusion nurses – Amanda Funderburk, Bethany Poplin and Beth Hargette – saw a need and put a plan into motion,” Comer says. “When the idea was presented to our clinical staff, everyone was eager to jump on board. The Patient Pantry allows us to go beyond medical care and help meet those basic needs.”
The initiative began as a simple closet stocked with hygiene products, non-perishable food items and household supplies. But the team didn’t stop at their own contributions. The Patient Pantry quickly grew into a community-wide effort. Funderburk, Poplin and Hargette reached out to their families, churches and community groups to collect donations. Local organizations and individuals donated toiletries, blankets and even gas and grocery gift cards. Bethany’s mother contributed by creating a church cookbook, with proceeds going to the pantry. And Hargette often puts her couponing skills to work, maximizing every penny of the cash donations the team receives.
“Everyone just helps out, no questions asked,” Poplin says. “We put the need out, and the community responds.”
“We’re going to care for them like family.”
Since its inception, the Patient Pantry has served more than 20 individuals, each with their own unique challenges. From furnishing homes to covering utility bills, the team consistently goes above and beyond to meet their patients’ needs – extending their care far beyond the hospital’s walls.
For Hargette, this personalized, compassionate approach begins the moment she meets a new patient.
“When I first meet a patient who is starting chemo, I tell them they just inherited a big family, and we’re going to care for them like family,” Hargette says. “I wouldn't let my biological family go without if I could help it. We want our patients to feel that love. Patients are going through the hardest part of their lives, if we can lighten it just a little bit, it’s worth it all.”
Comer echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the team’s dedication to addressing not only medical but also social and economic challenges.
“We serve a population with unique needs, including language barriers, food insecurities and financial challenges. The pantry is one way we’ve adapted to meet those needs,” Comer says.
This holistic care has drawn praise from former patients and fellow teammates, earning Funderburk, Poplin and Hargette a nomination for a Daisy Award, a national recognition program that thanks nurses for the care and kindness they provide.
For Helen, the support she received has been life-changing.
“The way they’ve reached out to me … there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to help them,” Helen says. “Sometimes you don’t know how to ask, pride can get in the way and make you suffer. But I realized all you have to do is open your mouth. That is what I ended up doing, and God blessed me tenfold through the kindness of this team.”
Learn more information about Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute Union, or contact them at 980-442-0430.
