News Articles

The Ithaca Journal
January 26, 2007
	ON THE NET Small Comforts Foundation: www.smallcomforts.org Small Comforts makes big difference By Andrew Tutino atutino@ithacajournal.com Journal Staff LANSING — Since the beginning of the not-for-profit organization Candace Cima and her family founded almost a decade ago, they have always thought small. Inspired by little things that helped her family through a lengthy hospital stay when Candace's husband was ill, they decided to try to help people, and their caregivers, who have a chronic or terminal illness. So after starting three successful programs at three different medical care institutions, the Cima Family's Small Comforts Foundation is now branching out to try to reach more people, but still aiming to provide small gifts that may make life easier for an ill person. The Small Comforts Foundation began taking applications last April 1 for items or gifts for chronically or terminally ill people. The gifts can buy any number of things as long as the cost doesn't exceed $250. Examples of previous awards include air conditioning units ,wheelchairs, talking wristwatches, shower chairs, blood pressure monitors, televisions, CDs and DVD players, among others. The deadline to apply is May 1 and anyone in Tompkins County with a chronic or terminal illness is eligible. "This allows us to reach more people because it can be anyone," said Laura Cima, Candace's daughter and a member of the foundation's board of directors. "We are trying to concentrate on people in Tompkins County." The Small Comforts Foundation was founded in 1998 after Alex Cima, Candace's husband, was hospitalized after being diagnosed with kidney disease. The family wanted to try and make life somewhat normal through long hospital stays. Their son, David, suggested bringing a VCR to the hospital so Alex could watch his favorite movies, but regulations prohibited them from doing so. After Alex was released, the family worked with Cayuga Medical Center officials to start the Alex Cima VCR program, where about 14 televisions and VCRs were donated by the foundation to the hospital so patients could watch movies, cartoons or whatever they'd like to help ease the monotony of staying in a hospital That program has grown to include up to about 25 television units, along with a supply of movies that has been replenished since the program first began. Later, the Small Comforts Foundation created the "Comfort Closet Project" That program has grown to include up to about 25 television units, along with a supply of movies that has been replenished since the program first began. Later ,the Small Comforts Foundation created the "Comfort Closet Project" at Hospicare of Tompkins County where items that improve the quality of life for people who are ifi are loaned out and returned when the person doesn't need the item anymore. The foundation also runs a program at the Hope Lodge in Rochester where people can receive free housing while undergoing cancer treatments. But the latest project — offering small gifts to people—is one that was born because of the countless phone calls the foundation received from people asking for help, but didn't qualify because they were not under the care of one of the other programs. The Cimas said they are striving to be different with the Small Comforts Foundation from other nonprofits who work with ill people. While the Make-A-Wish Foundation thinks big, Small Comforts is more concerned with finding ways to help improve the daily life of ill people.