While October brings with it the reds, yellows and oranges of autumn, it’s also a time to think pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You likely know someone touched by the disease —whether it’s yourself, a friend or a relative. Pink Ribbon Good is dedicated to making a difference for people and families impacted by breast and gynecological cancers. To learn more about the nonprofit’s work in St. Louis, we spoke with regional director Ivana Moorhem. “No one has to travel this road alone,” Moorhem notes. “Pink Ribbon Good is right there alongside cancer patients.”
What is the mission of Pink Ribbon Good?
Pink Ribbon Good exists to serve every person and family affected by breast and gynecological cancers. We provide rides to and from treatment through Uber Health. We also supply healthy meals three times a week. That’s breakfast, lunch and dinner for not only the patient, but also every member of their household. To help with chores, we provide all-natural cleaning products and a lightweight vacuum that is easier to use. The final component of our programming is peer support. We organize both virtual and in-person events.
We made the decision to change to Pink Ribbon Good around two years ago. Pink Ribbon Girls was a name that was loved by a lot of people, but the average age of our clients is 57. We didn’t want anyone to think they didn’t qualify due to age. Having the right name makes all the difference. We wanted to make it clear that our services were accessible to anyone dealing with breast and gynecological cancers.
How has the organization grown?
We’ve been able to reach a lot more people in the community. From 2022 to 2023, we expanded our services by 34%. During that time, we served 2,638 total households. This year, we’re on track to grow our reach by another 30%. The need is great in St. Louis, but we’re here to fulfill it.
Why does Pink Ribbon Good offer the services it does?
Our founder, Heather Salazar, sat down with physicians to figure out what would be most impactful. Right now, there are serious gaps in the health care system. There may be cancer treatment options, but for some patients, traveling to a hospital or medical center is difficult. You may be able to offer medication, chemo or other therapies, but some people don’t have access to healthy food. Outside of a cancer diagnosis, we don’t have requirements for people to request services, but 22% of our clients are ride insecure, 23% are food insecure and 56% fall below the poverty line. Our goal is to find ways to remove those barriers.
We focus on the human behind the cancer diagnosis. Our services deal with concerns that you don’t think twice about when you’re healthy. For a lot of people, it’s not an issue to travel across town, cook dinner or clean the house. However, once you introduce cancer into the equation, these simple tasks can become a Goliath for you and your family. We’re lending a hand so patients and their families can dedicate themselves to the fight against cancer. As long as there is cancer, there is always a need for Pink Ribbon Good.
How can people support Pink Ribbon Good?
We have a few events throughout the year people can get involved with. The Sarah Bender Memorial Golf Tournament is in the spring, and the Survivor Celebration is in June. Our largest event is our Ignite the Fight gala in the fall. This year’s event is Oct. 12 at the Four Seasons. The gala not only helps us raise essential funds, but also brings the community together to celebrate those who are battling cancer. Finally, we have the Party with a Purpose in December. For those looking to make a sustaining impact, we have our Fight Club. It’s a group of donors that are committed to giving
every month.
Photos courtesy of Pink Ribbon Good