5 years, 8 selections, $2,051 in donations
Since August 2019, MAC Angels Foundation has been selected to benefit from the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program 8 times at 4 different Stop & Shop locations. In total, the organization has received $2,051 in donations to continue enhancing the quality of life for people impacted by ALS, including patients, loved ones, and caregivers.
Tell us about MAC Angels Foundation.
The mission of MAC Angels Foundation is to help all impacted by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) throughout the New York Metro area. We help people navigate the complex maze of the medical community and support services. We even provide financial grants for people impacted by ALS. The people impacted by ALS extend beyond just patients and include caregivers and loved ones.
MAC Angels was established as the Mary Ann Collier Foundation in 2001 to help people with serious illnesses. At a very young age, the daughter of Mary Ann Collier passed away from ALS in 2010. The focus and mission of the organization were then changed to help people with ALS exclusively.
What services do you provide to the community?
Imagine you receive the news that you or your loved one has been diagnosed with ALS. Identifying and navigating the treatment, services, and resources for persons impacted by ALS (pALS) can be overwhelming. MAC Angels Foundation fills this gap.
We focus on service navigation to help families identify what programs they may be eligible for. For example, we connect caregivers with support groups. We also provide financial grants to help with everyday expenses. In the case of ALS, many people think Medicare and insurance companies will cover everything, but unfortunately, they don’t. Day-to-day expenses add up pretty quickly, so being able to offer access to resources and financial assistance is really important.
We focus on service navigation to help families identify what programs they may be eligible for.
How has MAC Angels Foundation used the donations from the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program to further its mission?
Funding from Stop & Shop helps us reach out to more people and fund grants. Even though the terminology is familiar, ALS is thought of as a rare disease. Anybody who has been diagnosed with ALS or any other illness is looking for folks going through the same thing. At MAC Angels, we provide that connection.
There are often challenges for people living in urban areas, such as language or physical barriers. It can be challenging, especially if you have limited income or are in public housing.
Tell us a story about a program, service, or initiative that the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program has supported.
I want to tell you about a couple living in New York. We have changed the names of the couple for confidentiality. As a practicing psychotherapist, Ken had been working with several families and doing incredible work. He started developing ALS symptoms, and it progressed to the point where he could no longer speak.
His partner, Betsy, was a teacher in New York City. Unfortunately, Betsy had to make a really hard choice to stop working and become Ken’s full-time caregiver, even though it would mean losing the insurance coverage. Betsy left her job to care for Ken, which is an incredible display of dedication to a loved one. The couple came to MAC Angels for financial assistance and help navigating the medical and social services they were entitled to.
We partner with organizations like Bridging Voice, an organization that can configure iPads for people who are still speaking but starting to lose their abilities. The organization can record their voice and furnish an iPad with speech technology and an eye-tracking app, enabling them to continue conversations. Fortunately, Ken’s been able to continue his practice. We’ve been helping Betsy and Ken ever since.
Have you noticed any changes in community awareness or support since becoming involved in the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program?
Since ALS is a rare disease, people look for any resources they can go to for help. The program has helped us connect with people who maybe don’t have someone with ALS in their family but know of somebody who has ALS. We’ve heard of situations where people have seen the Community Bag Program signage or how we’ve promoted it on social media that spurred them to contact MAC Angels.
The program has helped us connect with people who maybe don’t have someone with ALS in their family but know of somebody who has ALS.
What advice would you give other nonprofits participating in the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program?
Make sure to meet with the people in the stores. We know that the store staff teams are incredibly busy with day-to-day tasks, but taking the time to go in and thank them is so important. I also would encourage organizations to promote the good work you’re doing. Whether it’s for MAC Angels or another organization, one bag purchase can potentially save a life.
Whether it’s for MAC Angels or another organization, one bag purchase can potentially save a life.
Interview with Marty Siederer, Executive Director