The Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte turned over its Cancer Patient Fund to the NewDay Foundation.
The LaPorte Hospital Foundation created the Cancer Patient Fund in the mid-1980s to help cancer patients with the cost of treatment, transportation, prescriptions and other expenses.
For the last 35 years, it's helped cancer patients with financial difficulties and worries about how they will get through it, helping cover bills while they undergo chemotherapy and other treatments.
For the past five years, the Cancer Patient Fund has been administered by the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte. It's been funded by the Tour de LaPorte cycling, running and walking event, a half-marathon and 5K that has raised more than $761,630 thus far.
“HFL and the former LaPorte Hospital Foundations helped more than 2,000 community members and funded over $750,000 in direct patient assistance,” said Maria Fruth, president and CEO of the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte. “We are grateful for the many supporters of the fund, either through the Tour de LaPorte, memorial contributions and outright gifts, giving the foundation the ability to assist community members battling cancer.”
But now the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte decided to focus more on its vision of making LaPorte one of Indiana's top 10 healthiest communities by 2030, by offering local nonprofits grands for various health and wellness initiatives.
It transferred the Tour de LaPorte to the LaPorte County YMCA in 2019 and now is turning the Cancer Patient Fund of $100,919 to the NewDay Foundation in LaPorte. Founded by Connie and Scott Marhanka in 2003, the NewDay Foundation will take over all cancer patient applications and assistance.
“The NewDay Foundation is thankful for the opportunity to grow our outreach with the support of the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte. We are excited about the impact that we will be able to make on the lives of so many members of our community through the transfer of the cancer patient fund," said Katrina Langford, NewDay Foundation executive director.
The NewDay Foundation has given $58,000 worth of assistance to cancer patients in LaPorte County after raising funds through the NewDay 5K, the NewDay concert, and the corn maze at Coulter’s Farm.
For more information, visit newdaylaporte.org or email klangford@newdaylaporte.org or applications@newdaylaporte.org.
NWI Business Ins and Outs
It's Just Serendipity switches to appointment-only
It's Just Serendipity will serendipitously keep its doors open, for the time being, though after pivoting to an appointment-only model.
Owner Karen Maravilla announced in November that her antique store, which sells vintage, handcrafted and repurposed goods at 5630 Hohman Ave. in downtown Hammond, would close after 11 years after previously warning of a potential closure back in 2017.
But the store that caters to customers "on the hunt for accidental discoveries or serendipitous treasures" will stay open, at least for now. It will no longer maintain any regularly scheduled hours for walk-in traffic but will schedule private shopping appointments to anyone who texts Maravilla at 219-512-4298 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to schedule an appointment.
Karen Maravilla talks about the importance of supporting small businesses
Buy local or bye local
It's Just Serendipity — which has been voted among The Times Best in the Region for 10 years in a row — will help customers find particular items they are looking for, offer curbside pickup and delivery, and post inventory for sale on social media.
It also will offer prop rentals, create custom gift baskets and "continue to showcase the best vintage/antique, hand crafted/re-purposed/up-cycled goods by local artists with exceptional customer service."
The shop sells architectural finds, hardware, tools, collectibles, jewelry, holiday items, memorabilia, greeting cards and vintage clothing. It strives to find new homes for vintage and antique goods so they don't end up in closets, basements or landfills.
"I am very sad. I am also very discouraged about the choices people are making in regards to supporting small businesses/brick-and-mortar shops," said Maravilla, who's also the president of the Downtown Hammond Council. "Buy local or bye local."
It’s Just Serendipity owner Karen Maravilla talks about why she’s so committed to downtown Hammond
'2020 has been cruel'
Maravilla, who has volunteered in downtown Hammond for 20 years, has long worked toward its revitalization, especially after buying the former Dolly Madison store that sold day-old groceries at a discount, and turning it into It's Just Serendipity.
In addition to the store, Maravilla maintained three warehouses full of inventory. But one burned down last fall.
"2020 has been cruel," she said. "2020 was bad for everyone but it was just one thing after another."
It's like "It's a Wonderful Life"
Maravilla, who lost friends to coronavirus, said the pandemic was especially harsh on small business owners.
"People need to shop small and shop local instead of ordering online to save a few pennies," she said. "Businesses are an asset in your community that make donations and spend money in the community. It's disheartening so many people shop online and at big-box stores. If you don't support small businesses, their doors close and their gone. It's like 'It's a Wonderful Life' where you affect everyone's life in a different way but don't know how you affect people."
It's your heart and soul
People make a show about flocking to local independently owned businesses on Small Business Saturday but that's just once a year.
"When people lose a job, it's devastating, but they can find another job," she said. "When you've sunk your whole life into your business, it's not quite the same. It's your heart and soul. It's flattering that other towns and cities have come to me about relocating, but once you've made a commitment to a place you need to follow through. But if you don't support business they go away."
For more information, visit itsjustserendipity.com, email itsjustserendipity@att.net, or find the business on Facebook.
It’s Just Serendipity owner discusses how the vintage shop is pivoting to a new business model.
Arby's opens
Ving Rhames voice: "St. John has the meats."
Arby's, the fast food chain known for its roast beef, beef and cheddar, gyro, smokehouse brisket, loaded Italian, corned beef Reuben and seasonal deep-fried turkey sandwiches, as well as its well-seasoned curly fries, has opened at 10081 Wicker Ave. in St. John.
It's the third Arby's location owned by Merchant Management, which also owns Arby's franchises in Orland Park and Lockport.
Owner Faisal Merchant said the St. John restaurant is celebrating its opening with five classic roast beef sandwiches for $10.
For more information, call 219-627-3369 or find St. John Arby's on Facebook.
Opening soon
Nick's Liquors plans to open its newest location at 6905 Calumet Ave. in Hammond.
The popular chain of liquor and cigarette retailers currently operates eight stores in Hammond, Hobart, Dyer and Merrillville, purporting to offer "the cheapest discount prices on beer, wine, liquor and cigarettes in Northwest Indiana." It's opening a newly constructed location at a busy intersection not far from the state line in Hammond, catty-corner from a much smaller and older store it will replace.
"It is located at the corner of Calumet Ave.and 169th," manager Zach Kikalos said. "We plan on making a soft opening in the middle of next week, roughly Jan. 14."
For more information, visit www.nicksliquors.com.
Reopening
Lice Clinics of America – NWI has reopened as Lice Clinics NWI.
Crown Point residents Flo and Randy Klackle own the clinic at 1010 Breuckman Drive next to Custom Dosing Pharmacy that offers "one-and-done" lice treatments.
The clinic offers screening, diagnosis and treatment for people infested with head lice. It uses non-toxic topical products to kill the lice and eggs within about an hour with a 30-day guarantee.
"We have successfully treated thousands and have been honored to help the communities we service over the past 5 years, and we look forward to continuing to do so with our cutting edge process, under our new name” Flo Klackle said. “Most people go to the local drug store and buy OTC solutions that take hours to use, and have a very low success rate. Our procedure has a 99% success rate.”
The business is open by appointment-only seven days a week.
For more information, call 219-779-2289, visit LiceClinicsNWI.net or email at LiceClinicNWI@gmail.com
Fundraising to stay alive
Treasure Island Nutrition, a sports nutrition store at 1947 W. 45th St. in Griffith, is looking to raise funds and make sales online after its owner's household was afflicted with two coronavirus infections in a month.
The Herbalife affiliate opened near the Highland/Griffith border just a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide and now has temporarily shuttered its brick-and-mortar location. It sells teas, shakes and other nutritional supplements geared at people looking to bodybuild, lose weight, train as athletes or just get in shape.
"Treasure Island Nutrition will be closed until further notice. This ugly virus has hit our home for the second time in less than 30 days," the owners posted online. "Just five short months after opening our doors we all were hit with a worldwide pandemic. Treasure Island Nutrition remained open the entire time to help fuel your bodies with the best nutrition and help boost our immune systems.
"The last quarter of this year has been rough, to say the least. We had four family deaths in October alone. Which required traveling in November. Bringing us to December which we have been closed for almost the whole month due to COVID-19. My husband was infected which required me to quarantine and take care of my family, and now it has hit me. I have to quarantine and stay home while our business suffers from this horrible virus.
"My husband can’t open his tattoo business back up until I am cleared. We never got any government assistance due to no return on calls and no progress with any applications we filled out for assistance. Any and all donations to keep our dream and small business afloat will be greatly appreciated. The money raised will go directly to the bills to keep us open. While the big corporations get bailed out, this is all we have to stay afloat. Thank you dearly! See you in paradise."
For more information, search for Keep Treasure Island Alive on GoFundMe.com.
If you would like your business to be included in a future column, email joseph.pete@nwi.com.
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Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.
