NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — For more than a decade, PopCares has been supporting people and families fighting cancer. 

 

It is these efforts that have earned the nonprofit our Community Hero of the Month designation. 

 

The Community Hero of the Month is a 12-month series that honors individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact on their community. This year's sponsor is Window World of Western Massachusetts. Nominate a hero here.

 

The St. Pierre brothers — Bill, Mike, and Bob — established the organization in 2012 to honor their father, William "Pop" St. Pierre, who passed away from lung cancer shortly prior. 

 

During St. Pierre's treatments, the need to support those battling cancer was evident. So immediately following his death, the trio founded PopCares to ensure no one has to fight the disease alone. 

 

"With the rising cost of co-pays and deductibles, the financial need has just increased for people, and it's not just about the money … sometimes it's about people knowing that there's other people that have been through that and [are] there to support them," Bob said. 

 

Since its inception, the organization has donated more than $1,150,000 to caregivers and cancer patients, which equates to approximately 1,450 patients in Northern Berkshire County and neighboring towns in Southern Vermont, Bill said. 

 

"The community is the hero because without them, we would not have PopCares," Bob said. 

 

"No one from PopCares will ever ask an individual for a donation. It's all volunteer, and the local businesses support us so much, including Southside Sales, Adams Community Bank, and Greylock Works, when we have our large fundraiser. The support from the local businesses is really great." 

 

PopCares organizes several fundraisers throughout the year, including its annual car show, Christmas tree sales, and a chicken dinner and auction.

 

On Oct. 4, PopCares will be having its 14th annual Chicken Dinner Auction, featuring a baked stuffed chicken dinner or a pasta primavera dinner catered by Bounti-Fare, live, silent and chance auctions, raffles, and more. 

 

General seating is $45, and VIP seating is $100. Tickets sell out quickly so early ticket purchase is recommended. Past dinner's have sold up to 600 tickets.

 

In June, Southside Sales owner Bruce Gaspardi offered his parking lot to PopCares for its annual Car Show, one of its biggest fundraising events, and even included a couple of his own cars. 

 

"I think this is our fourth year we've done it with PopCares. [Mike] comes in for business, and he was looking for a space because his other space had kind of disappeared. I said, 'You can use mine.' I had no question to do it with Mike and the gang, because they do a great job," Gaspardi said. 

 

It is pretty impressive that all this money was raised in just Northern Berkshire County, Bill said.  

 

"We raise the money here. That's why we give it out here," he said. 

 

The support goes beyond the financial givings, Bill said. 

 

Patients and caregivers know they are not alone because of gestures from the community, such as cards or flowers, to brighten their day and remind them that they have support in the community. 

 

"People get a card in the mail and they realize there's other people thinking about them, and that's huge," Bill said. 

 

"My mother, she got random flowers one time, and my father was going through his treatments, and that brightened her day. So, it's that the people know that the community is backing them, supporting them."

 

PopCares now sends flowers to caregivers to repay the favor. They provide gift cards or certificates to local restaurants so that the caregiver can get out, if only for one night.

 

"We also try to support caregivers because, I think, sometimes it's easier being the person that's sick than the person that's watching someone go through this," Bob said. 

 

"We saw what my mom went through supporting my dad, helping my dad. So, we also support caregivers, the family caregivers, if we think that's important."

 

PopCares is still trying to spread awareness about its organization so it can get more recipients it can help. 

 

"There are still some people in our community that don't know we're here, and they still need help. If we can get awareness out and get more recipients that we can help, because no one should go through this alone," Mike said. 

 

Dennis Gajda's family was one of the first to receive support from PopCares. 

 

On July 4, 2014, his daughter, Crista Wood, gave birth at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington to a son named Carrick, who was born with cancer. 

 

Carrick was immediately taken to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center and later transferred to Boston Children's Hospital, where he remained for six months.

 

PopCares and the St. Pierres provided assistance to the family through gift cards and gas funds, helping with trips to Boston three times a week for Carrick's treatment. 

 

"Carrick, he died in 2017, and if he were still going today, he would be 11 years old on July 4," Gajda's said. 

 

With everything PopCares has done for Carrick and their family, Gajda said he would donate anything and would do anything the aid in their efforts. 

 

"It stays right here for local people to help them when they're in need. My daughter and son-in-law didn't work. They stayed in Boston for six months, so they needed help, and the St. Pierre family with PopCares stepped right up and helped them a lot," Gajda said. 

 

"I can't thank them any more than I do, but I'd donate anything, anything that I could to help them out."