The Northern New England Clinical Oncology Society (NNECOS) offers the Cancer Community Support Grocery/Gas Card Program to address the emergency needs of cancer patients in Northern New England. This initiative is focused on alleviating financial toxicity, food insecurity, and other immediate challenges faced by patients undergoing cancer treatment. The program is available to practices and clinics located in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
The primary purpose of this grant program is to provide direct emergency assistance in the form of $25 grocery and gas gift cards to eligible cancer patients. Recipients must be hematology or oncology patients currently undergoing active treatment or those receiving palliative care services as they near hospice. The program is not intended for long-term survivors who are no longer in active treatment. All distributed cards are funded and gifted by NNECOS and are distributed through participating clinics or practices.
To participate, each clinic must designate a "champion" responsible for program implementation, card distribution, accountability, and regular reporting to NNECOS. Clinics must have documented procedures and protocols in place for the management and distribution of the cards. The cards are purchased directly by NNECOS and delivered to the clinic with a note indicating the gift’s source.
Applications for the program are accepted on a rolling basis through an online form. Submissions received by the end of each month are reviewed within that month's review cycle. Awards are then issued by the 15th of the following month. Each participating site is limited to a maximum of 120 cards per year.
Evaluations are conducted using a rubric, and accountability is emphasized through required reporting from the designated champion at each site. The application and ongoing management process are designed to ensure that the aid reaches patients most in need and that the distribution process remains transparent and effective.
