By My Sister’s Side stories compiled by Mindy Dalgran
Katie’s story, among 11 others is published!
Mindy Dalgarn and Susan met at the assisted living complex in Galena IL where both their mothers reside. Susan and Missy each knew the devastation of losing someone to cancer as shortly after they met Mindy lost her twin sister Missy to cancer. They became friends.
Mindy knew her sister would want something positive to come from her death. As avid readers and writers, she reached out to friends who had experienced the same pain, having similar stories of losing family members to cancer. In turn, those friends reached out to others, expanding the circle of healing through story-telling.
Susan was one of those she reached out to. She in turn reached out to Katie’s good friend Sarah and then to Scott, a newspaper reporter that Susan had gotten to know as he published numerous articles about Katie. Both agreed to tell their stories of losing a father and brother to cancer.
The result was a heartfelt and powerful collection of stories by nine other individuals who loved and lost mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, and husbands to cancer.
Each chapter of By My Sister's Side tells a story that is deeply personal, exposing hearts that have been broken. All net proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to The Mop Shop in Elizabeth, IL.
The Mop Shop
Missy and Mindy established The Mop Shop in August of 2014 after being surprised and saddened by the number of people requesting cleaning supplies on an angel tree at a local bank in December of 2013.
To date, nearly 1,100 clients and family members who self-identify as being in need in Jo Daviess County in Northern Illinois have registered. Clients may select two higher value items such as mops, brooms, multi-surface cleaners, and disinfecting wipes and two lower value items such as paper towels, dish soap, sponges, and garbage bags. Every other month, clients may select laundry detergent and fabric softener.
As a NON 501(c)(3), The Mop Shop relies exclusively on the generosity of family, friends, civic organizations, banks, businesses, churches, and youth groups for product and monetary donations. Records show that $300- $350 is required to maintain the inventory each month.
It has always been the desire that this mop shop serve as a template for mop shops throughout the country such that they become as prevalent as food pantries. The original contention was that if people could not afford food, they likely could not afford cleaning supplies. And if they have to choose between the two, putting food on the table would be the obvious choice.
To that end, the Melissa A. Dalgarn Mop Shop Start-Up Grant was established following Missy's death. Two $500 grants are available in the states of Illinois and Iowa in hopes that there are those within other communities who will embrace the opportunity to meet the needs of those less fortunate.
Grant applications are available by contacting Mindy at melindadalgarn@aol.com.
For further information and to purchase a copy of the book, please visit www.bronzebearbooks.com and www.themopshop.org.
Susan is honored to be part of this heartfelt endeavor especially knowing that these powerful stories and their “Mop Shop” will continue to help others.