Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Childhood Cancer Lantern
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Set up the ask

Patches of Light

Assistance

What you get

Help with current rent or mortgage obligations associated with treatment hardship, current utility and other business-associated bills related to treatment hardship, gas gift cards, and grocery or food gift cards. Applications are closed for now. Ask when they reopen.

Families cannot contact this program directly; it goes through your care team.

Who starts it
Your social worker
How it’s sent
Through your social worker
Your time
One conversation with your social worker
Last checked
Aug 27, 2026

Before you start, check you fit

  • Prepare current bills, housing proof, and bank-balance records when requested; incomplete applications are not sent back for corrections.
  • Explain why a parent or guardian is not working and how the illness affects your finances.
  • A current hospital social worker must submit the request; direct family contact about an application can disqualify the request.

  1. One thing to do: ask your social workerThey send it. You give them what they need.

    Patches of Light takes requests from your social worker, not from families. Copy this message, or say it at the next visit.

    Hi [social worker’s name],

Could you send a request to Patches of Light for us? They offer help with current rent or mortgage obligations associated with treatment hardship, current utility and other business-associated bills related to treatment hardship, gas gift cards, and grocery or food gift cards, and it has to come from you. Their page is here: https://www.patchesoflight.org/s/Social-worker-critria-letter-and-Application-for-Assistance-2026.pdf

Tell me what you need from me and I’ll bring it to our next visit. Thank you for everything you do for us.

[your name] · [phone]
    Copying is the only thing this page does with your text. Nothing is saved.

    What to bring to the meeting

    • Your child’s diagnosis, the hospital’s name, and what you need help with.

    What happens next

    • Current social worker or hospital staff member prints and completes every blank, checklist, agreement, and cover-letter item legibly without modifying the form.
    • Medical professional authors the required explanation letter.
    • Parent or guardian and the medical professional review and personally sign their required attestations; the submitting professional signs the agreement and cover letter.
    • The current social worker or hospital staff member faxes the complete packet to 1-614-529-8707 or emails it to patchesoflight@aol.com after intake reopens.

After your social worker sends it

Submitting professional should email to confirm receipt. Allow 2-3 weeks for consideration.

Full record, as published