LINC (Legal Information Network for Cancer) expands service area

As a recipient of grants from both the Cameron Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Legal Information Network for Cancer is expanding its service territory to the Crater Health District. This grant allows LINC to provide services to residents of the Petersburg area as well as Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Sussex […]

April 15, 2008; 9:37 AM • by brenda p

As a recipient of grants from both the Cameron Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Legal Information Network for Cancer is expanding its service territory to the Crater Health District. This grant allows LINC to provide services to residents of the Petersburg area as well as Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Sussex and the portion of Chesterfield County that lies south of Route 10.

LINC was founded in 1996 by Ann Hodges and Phyllis Katz, two cancer survivors. During their diagnosis and recovery, they became aware that many cancer patients and their families needed help navigating and dealing with issues beyond medical concerns, regarding insurance, housing, employment and simply finding ways to meet basic life needs.

LINC is the only service organization of this kind in Virginia. With its partnerships with community resources and volunteers from different professions (law, financial planning and banking), the clients are able to have their basic needs met as well as having legal issues resolved—when a job is lost due to time spent in medical treatments; appealing decisions of insurance companies to deny medical procedures; applying for public benefits; help finding legal guardians for children left behind in the case of those who are terminal.

Most of the clients tend to be those people who are uninsured or underinsured and cannot survive without an interruption in their earnings. Each month approximately 20-30 new clients seek services; over 3000 have been served since its inception.

LINC’s services are expressed most eloquently in the words of its clients. “Services are individualized which makes the client feel of value, not a case statistic.” “She Listened, understood, and acted or recommended action. Very respectful.” “I had more help from you than anyone else—please stick around, there will be many more to come.”

On May 1, LINC will hold an informational meeting from 8:30 to 10:30 with a brief presentation at 9:00 a.m at the Petersburg Department of Social Services Training Room (400 Farmer Street). If you or someone you know has cancer and needs help, please contact LINC at 804.378.5462 or online at clientservices@cancerlinc.org.

April 15, 2008 9:37 AM 0