Starts with Heart

Event reaches out to kids whose lives have been touched by cancer

EL CENTRO — Recognizing cancer’s toll on families, particularly children, the Cancer Resource Center of the Desert and the Starts with Arts Foundation collaborated Saturday to provide free haircuts, backpacks, school supplies and uniform to students whose lives have been touched by cancer.

“This event was to help meet the needs of Cancer patients. These include the children affected from cancer and their families,” said Helen Palomino, CEO of Cancer Resource Center of the Desert. More than 30 kids were served.

The free haircuts were given by volunteer barber Amanda King and hair stylist Elena Perez.

Understanding that cancer victims are so impacted with the cost of living and treatment both sponsors were thankful that they made a difference in this small community, “It is great for them to be able to come and pick up what they need. To them it feels like Christmas. They felt very special and supported,” Palomino said.

Knowing the patients and the struggles each go through, Palomino was almost brought to tears discussing these acts of kindness. She explained her patient load goes through financial, emotional and physical distress. Being able to provide support for these patients was an honor to her and the Starts with Arts Foundation, she said.

Founded in 2012, the Starts with Arts Foundation is an El Centro-based non-profit whose mission is to raise funds for art programs and to raise awareness of the educational advantages of art in classrooms.

This is the third year the organization has done backpack giveaways, said David Valera, coordinator of Saturday’s event. Last year, Starts with Arts gave away some 1000 backpacks. Its goal this year, according to its Facebook page, is to give out a total of 1,500.

PHOTO ANDY VELEZ FROM LEFT: Velazco sisters Rhyanna, 9; Rhoswen, 5, and Milley, 8, pose together at Saturday’s backto-school event. Rhyanna and Rhoswen are shown holding locks of hair they planned to donate for cancer victims.

PHOTO ANDY VELEZ Rhyanna Velazco, 9, finishes getting a free trim from hairstylist Elena Perez at Saturday’s backto-school event organized by the Starts with Arts Foundation and the Cancer Resource Center of the Desert.

PHOTO ANDY VELEZ Ernesto Ramirez, 7, shows off the new backpack filled with school supplies he received at Saturday’s back-to-school event organized by the Starts with Arts Foundation and the Cancer Resource Center of the Desert.

PHOTO ANDY VELEZ Organizers and volunteers from Saturday’s back-toschool event.