Maui Cancer Resources

Donation, Sponsorship & Community Support Request

Dear Friend and Supporter of Maui’s Cancer Community,

Since receiving our first grant from the Joseph Padula Foundation in 2017, Maui Cancer Resources (MCR) has steadily identified gaps in cancer care on Maui and created programs to meet the needs of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Because Maui County does not have a comprehensive cancer center, patients and families often face significant challenges navigating diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, supportive care, and services that may need to be obtained off island.

Maui Cancer Resources helps fill that gap.

We provide a critical bridge between patients, families, hospitals, oncology providers, community organizations, and off-island cancer resources through medical navigation, health literacy, supportive care, survivorship services, nutrition, psycho-oncology, education, and community programs.

Our work is becoming the foundation for the services needed in a comprehensive Cancer Support Center for Maui.

Our Growth Has Been Driven by Patient Need

What began as a small effort to provide education and wellness programs has grown into a broad network of services supporting cancer patients throughout their cancer journey.

In 2023, MCR had approximately 30 patient contacts per month.

Today, in 2026, that number has grown to more than 110 contacts per month through office visits, Zoom consultations, telephone support, and home visits for patients who are unable to travel.

Patients are referred to us by oncologists, hospitals, community organizations, other nonprofits, and community members, while many patients also find us independently.

Importantly, our supportive-care consultations are communicated back to the patient's oncology team, helping maintain continuity and coordination of care.

Programs and Services

1. Educational Retreats and DayTreats

From 2017–2019, MCR provided immersive three-day retreats focused on self-care, medical education, wellness, and recovery. Approximately 90 patients from across Maui, including participants from Molokai, benefited from these retreats.

Following COVID and the 2023 Maui wildfire disaster, we redesigned the program into DayTreats, one-day educational and wellness workshops held four times each year.

More than 100 cancer survivors and caregivers annually participate in these programs.

Topics include:

  • Emotional self-regulation and resilience

  • Symptom management

  • Understanding cancer treatment

  • Risks and benefits of supplements during treatment

  • Nutrition

  • Self-care

  • Survivorship skills

  • Recovery and wellness

In August 2026, MCR held its first Camp for Cancer Recovery, a highly successful three-day residential program for people undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment.

21 participants stayed overnight, 10 additional participants attended as day participants, and 15 volunteers supported the program.

We are now seeking funding to continue and expand the camp in 2027.

2. Personalized Medical Survivorship Consults

In November 2023, MCR began providing free personalized medical survivorship consultations.

These services address needs that frequently fall between traditional medical visits, including:

  • Medical navigation

  • Health literacy

  • Understanding laboratory and imaging results

  • Understanding treatment recommendations

  • Nutrition

  • Supplement and herbal medicine review

  • Symptom management

  • Psycho-oncology

  • Survivorship planning

  • Coordination with oncology providers

  • Connection with community and off-island resources

MCR provides support seven days a week for urgent and crisis needs, including office, virtual, telephone, and home visits.

We make home visits for patients who are temporarily unable to travel or are bedbound.

In 2025, MCR also began working with the Maui Memorial Medical Center Palliative Care team, providing integrative oncology consultation.

3. Cancer Healing Kitchens

With initial support from a Bayer grant in 2024, MCR established Cancer Healing Kitchens, a hands-on nutrition and cooking program.

Four programs are offered each year in a private kitchen setting. A chef who is also a cancer survivor works with participants, together with MCR's medical leadership, to prepare a three-course meal.

Participants learn:

  • Cancer-supportive nutrition

  • Food preparation

  • Healthy cooking techniques

  • Practical nutrition during treatment

  • How to incorporate nutritious foods into everyday life

The program has served approximately 180 patients, including participants from two Cancer Healing Kitchen workshops on Molokai.

4. Mindfulness and Psycho-Oncology

Cancer can produce profound anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and PTSD, while specialized mental health services for people with cancer remain limited.

MCR began mental health programming in 2023 with support from the American Cancer Society, initially addressing the combined trauma experienced by cancer and disaster survivors following the Maui fires.

The program evolved into formal training in 2025 and now includes a monthly Zoom support program addressing:

  • Grief

  • Loss

  • Trauma

  • PTSD

  • Emotional regulation

  • Resilience

Up to 10 participants participate in each session.

Psycho-oncology is also incorporated into survivorship consultations, helping patients address the emotional consequences of diagnosis and treatment as part of a comprehensive survivorship plan.

5. Angels on Assignment

MCR has developed volunteer programs that allow cancer survivors to transform their own experiences into meaningful support for others.

Programs include:

  • Cancer Support Bags — more than 150 bags created and delivered to patients receiving chemotherapy

  • Love Links — paper chains that allow patients to count and celebrate progress through chemotherapy or radiation

  • Pet Therapy — hospital and home visits

  • Inspirational Lei — more than 50 personalized lei presented to patients completing treatment

  • Finding Your Joy — community projects including baking and painted-rock activities

  • Healing Hikes — guided outdoor experiences led by a stage IV cancer survivor and ranger

  • Home Assistance — lawn care and small home repairs for patients who are temporarily unable to manage these tasks

MCR is seeking additional support to establish house-cleaning assistance for patients who are too ill to maintain their homes during intensive treatment.

6. The Cancer Journey Guide

MCR identified a major need for an accessible, comprehensive cancer survivorship resource specifically designed for Maui patients.

The result is the 70-page Cancer Journey Guide, covering:

  • Diagnosis

  • Cancer treatment

  • Medical terminology

  • Survivorship

  • Nutrition

  • Self-care

  • Supportive care

  • Practical resources

Qualitative research conducted in 2022 helped guide its development.

The first edition was completed in 2024, with more than 50 copies distributed directly to patients.

In 2025, the guide was updated with assistance from cancer survivors and an oncology nurse and is now available through MCR along with a companion Health Organizer.

With support from Papa Ola Lokahi, the Cancer Journey Guide is being translated into five languages, greatly expanding its usefulness for Maui's culturally diverse communities.

MCR is now developing a Faith-Based Community Health Worker and nurse program based on successful global models. The program will bring professional cancer education, medical guidance, prevention strategies, and navigation into churches and other trusted community settings serving populations facing language, socioeconomic, and healthcare-access barriers.

MCR is seeking funding to launch this program in 2027.

7. Survivorship Zoom Groups

Cancer survivors often need a safe environment where they can discuss the fears, grief, uncertainty, and emotional challenges that are difficult to express elsewhere.

MCR provides weekly professional survivorship Zoom groups serving approximately 6–8 survivors per session.

Programs include:

  • General cancer survivorship

  • Head and neck cancer survivorship

  • Breast cancer support

  • Caregiver support

  • Creating Calm Out of Chaos

  • Additional community outreach through Facebook and Instagram

These programs provide connection for patients who may otherwise feel isolated during or after treatment.

8. Compassion for Chemotherapy Medical Meals

In July 2026, a generous patient donation allowed MCR to establish Compassion for Chemotherapy Medical Meals.

The program provides 10 free medically appropriate meals to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or other intensive treatment who cannot afford or prepare nutritious food during this critical period.

Approximately 10 cancer patients per month are currently served, representing approximately 100 meals each month.

A team of MCR advisors reviews applications to help ensure that assistance reaches patients with significant need.

MCR is actively seeking sponsorship to continue this program in 2027.

9. Farm-to-Table Food Baskets

MCR is partnering with local farmers and community gardeners to provide fresh produce to cancer patients experiencing food insecurity.

Currently, approximately five families each week receive locally grown vegetables that they otherwise might not be able to afford.

The response from patients has been extraordinary, particularly from those who would otherwise rely primarily on canned or highly processed foods.

10. Healing With Art

Beginning in 2027, MCR plans to launch a 12-month Healing With Art program for cancer patients and caregivers.

The program will use art to help participants:

  • Process grief

  • Create meaningful connections

  • Develop legacy projects

  • Strengthen caregiver and patient relationships

  • Find peace and self-expression

This program was made possible through the generosity of a local Angel on Assignment.

11. Wellness Warrior Jackets

MCR is seeking funding to provide specialized Wellness Warrior Jackets designed specifically for people undergoing cancer treatment.

The jackets provide:

  • Easy access to IV sites

  • Access to implanted ports

  • Warmth during chemotherapy

  • Interior pockets for surgical drains

  • Greater comfort and dignity during treatment

MCR hopes to launch this program in late 2026 or early 2027.

Why Your Support Matters

Nonprofit organizations typically depend on a combination of grants, donations, sponsorships, and fundraising to provide services that are not reimbursed by insurance or routinely provided by hospitals or government programs.

MCR has accomplished an extraordinary amount with a predominantly volunteer workforce.

With the exception of our Executive Director, Cassie Pali, who serves as a part-time contracted employee, our programs are powered by volunteers, cancer survivors, healthcare professionals, community members, and generous supporters.

Many grants will fund specific programs but do not cover the administrative infrastructure required to sustain an organization.

For this reason, unrestricted donations are particularly valuable.

An unrestricted gift allows MCR to respond quickly to emerging patient needs, maintain essential operations, support navigation and coordination, and sustain services when grant funding is unavailable.

Your Investment Can Make a Direct Difference

We welcome support in whatever form best aligns with your interests and philanthropic priorities.

You may choose to support:

Medical Navigation & Survivorship
Help patients understand and navigate their cancer care.

Cancer Healing Kitchens & Nutrition
Help patients learn how to nourish themselves during and after treatment.

Compassion for Chemotherapy Medical Meals
Provide nutritious meals to patients during periods of intensive treatment.

Faith-Based Community Health Workers
Bring cancer education and navigation into underserved communities.

Camp for Cancer Recovery
Provide community, counseling, healing, and connection for people living through cancer.

Psycho-Oncology & Survivorship Groups
Help patients and caregivers address grief, trauma, anxiety, and emotional recovery.

Cancer Journey Guide
Expand access to culturally and linguistically appropriate cancer education.

Angels on Assignment
Support survivor-led programs that bring practical help, companionship, and joy to patients.

Healing With Art
Give patients and caregivers a creative pathway for healing and legacy.

Wellness Warrior Jackets
Provide comfort, dignity, and practical support during cancer treatment.

Or provide an unrestricted gift
Allow MCR to direct resources to the most urgent needs of Maui's cancer community.

An Invitation to Partner With Us

We would be honored to speak with you about the mission and future of Maui Cancer Resources.

I would be happy to discuss our mission, short- and long-term plans, programs, patient impact, and financial information and explore a partnership that aligns with your passion for improving cancer care and supportive services on Maui.

Your generosity can help ensure that a person facing cancer on Maui does not have to navigate the journey alone.

Thank you for considering a donation, sponsorship, or partnership with Maui Cancer Resources.

With gratitude,

Bridget S. Bongard, MD, FACP
Medical Director
Maui Cancer Resources