Students and staff at Penn Middle School came in early the day before Thanksgiving break to help make the holidays a little brighter for some with cancer. The group packed 180 Chemo Care Totes that will be donated to UPMC’s Hillman Cancer Center in honor of 7th-grade teacher, Jackie Landram. Unfortunately, Jackie lost her battle with cancer at age 44 on January 25, 2022. In an effort to keep her memory alive, her friends and colleagues established ‘Landram’s Light,’ a charitable organization to provide for those less fortunate or in need.
Each Landram’s Light tote contains encouraging notes from students and items intended to ease the burden of treatments: a blanket, hat, water bottle, lotion, puzzle books, and more.
“The grace, resilience, integrity, and tenacity with which Jackie lived continues to inspire the students and staff of Penn Middle,” said teacher/colleague Mrs. Meredith Hodge. “With this project, we hope to shine her light and bring a little comfort to patients going through situations similar to hers.”
Each tote is valued at over $60.00, and funds were generated through events such as school dances, Christmas-themed activities, a dodgeball tournament, and a district-wide teachers jeans day. More information about or to make a donation to Landram’s Light visit www.landramslight.com.
Wil Weishaar and Zach Kravetz begin the process of packing a tote
Mrs. Denise Yackovich and Mrs. Stefanie Bondra help the students attach hand sanitizer to the finished totes
Mrs. Brook Hinzman and Mrs. Nancy Beck hold one of the completed totes
Natalie Sterner, Anna Haas, Adrianna Chapkis, and Molly Kessler assemble totes
Hayden Flickinger and Dylan Landram (Jackie’s son) pack a tote together
Many of the Penn Middle School staff members participated in tote packing
Students who participated in packing the totes pose with the finished product