Local nonprofit checks off Christmas wish lists for families battling cancer
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Lynette’s Angels came together for the tenth and final time on Saturday, to give families battling with cancer a little Christmas joy.
The nonprofit took in four families this year, sharing their wish lists with the community to make sure every gift gets fulfilled.
“Lots of tears, and joy, and love. We’re just so happy to be a part of this,” said Kathy Collingsworth, one of the nonprofit’s board members.
Steven Earnest, President of Lynette’s Angels, started the mission in memory of his Aunt Lynette.
Almost ten years ago on Christmas, the family chose to forego their normal gift-giving tradition and instead, help those in need.
But on the morning of delivery, Aunt Lynette died from cancer.
“We had the difficult decision to continue on and do the delivery or not do it,” Earnest said. “We thought what she would want, and we did the delivery. After that, we just decided to continue it on. We incorporated cancer into it because that’s how she passed away. Every year it’s grown and gotten bigger and bigger. We help as many families as we can.”
With the help of over 100 businesses and community members, the organization has been able to help grant the wishes of more and more families each year.
“It’s amazing to have the community that we have in Lincoln,” Collingsworth said. “The outreach and the spirit of the holiday season, and making sure families have a wonderful Christmas, when sometimes they’re so overrun with medical bills and they can’t afford to pay them and they don’t know what they’re going to do. We just want to grant their wishes and help them have the happiest Christmas ever.”
And the response the nonprofit receives is incredibly heartwarming, with connections that will last a lifetime.
“A lot of them, if they get better, they try to pay it forward,” Earnest said. “We always see their names buying gifts off of the wish list and wanting to help the next person out. It’s an absolutely positive response.”
