How Do I Get Free Stuff If I Have Cancer?

Hands down, this is the most common question we get from our readers. Cancer is a difficult battle to fight physically, emotionally, and financially. However, please know there are many organizations and groups that want to help make the process just a little bit easier. From grants and scholarships to free care packages, here are 9 no-cost benefits you may not have known you could get as a cancer patient right now and all at zero cost to you.

1. Grants

Cancer in the Family Relief Fund

Provides grants ranging from $300 to $500 for a child’s extracurricular activities during his or her parent’s cancer treatment. From the website, “Whether a family is experiencing a financial crisis resulting from a diagnosis, or they just need some extra funds for luxuries because every extra dollar is going to medication costs… we want to help. We want to encourage and facilitate each child’s passion whether it be sports, music, art or any other activity.” Visit this link for current program availability and application.

There are many other organizations that offer grants specifically for cancer patients. Cancer Care News offers a directory of these free grants for cancer patients ranging from $500 to $5000 or more for cancer patients. Check out the link for our 2022 nationwide programs.

2. Home Energy Assistance

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

LIHEAP is a federally-funded program that helps low-income families with their energy bills. More information on how to apply for free home energy assistance can be found here.

3. Legal Help

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC)

Many cancer patients face legal problems as a result of their diagnosis, such as job discrimination or problems with insurance coverage. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States and provides funding to 133 nonprofit legal aid programs across the country. A list of these programs can be found here.

4. Care Packages

CCN Directory

There are numerous organizations that will send comfort care packages to cancer patients at zero cost. Examples include Bright Box, Pablove Shutterbugs, and Cleaning for a Reason.

❤️ See the Cancer Care News directory for a complete list of free care packages available to cancer patients here.

5. Scholarships

Check Out Our National Directory

Numerous scholarships are available for cancer patients and their families. The Simon College Fund provides scholarships for young adults affected by cancer, while the Special Love Scholarship Fund provides scholarships for children of parents with cancer.

❤️ More scholarships for cancer patients and families are in the national directory here.

6. Free Travel

Miracle Flights

Miracle Flights provides financial help for seriously-ill children and adults to take commercial flights to receive medical care. Eligibility for this program is based on financial need and health considerations. Download the application on the Miracle Flights website link above.

Mercy Medical Angels

Mercy Medical Angels provides help with all forms of free, long-distance medically-related transportation and provides referrals to all appropriate sources of help available in the national charitable medical transportation network. To complete the travel request form, visit https://www.mercymedical.org/request-assistance.

❤️ Here’s a nationwide list of national list of free travel providers for cancer patients and families.

7. Free Housing Assistance

Hospitality Homes

Cancer patients and families may qualify for housing assistance through programs like Hospitality Homes. Hospitality Homes provides free temporary housing for cancer patients who are receiving active treatment at least 50 miles away from home. Arrangements need advance notice so it’s best to plan ahead and get an application in well before treatment begins if possible. For current availability and program application, visit the website here: http://hosp.org/need-housing.

❤️ More free nationwide housing programs for cancer patients can be found here.

8. Free Books

Bright Reads

The Bright Reads Free Book Program by the Bright Spot Network offers up to four free books for children whose parent is going through cancer treatments. This is a wonderful no-cost resource to help children deal with the emotional issues that accompany a cancer diagnosis and is open to US residents. Visit this page https://www.brightspotnetwork.org/bright-reads for descriptions of available books and scroll down to the order form at the bottom.

❤️ More free books, magazines, and organizers can be found here.

9. Free Food Assistance

The Cancer Nutrition Consortium

The Cancer Nutrition Consortium provides nutritional support for cancer patients through recipes, expert guidance and free nutritional Carepacks by mail for  anyone in the USA currently undergoing cancer treatments. Each Carepack contains 3 ready-to eat meals, 3 protein shakes, whey protein powder and a protein powder shaker. To request your Carepack, complete the form on the Cancer Nutrition Consortium website here.  To learn more about other program offerings, visit the main website: https://www.cancernutrition.org/.

❤️ Click this link for more free food assistance programs for cancer patients and families.

Get More Help

From grants and scholarships to free care packages and travel, there are many national nonprofit programs available to cancer patients that can help ease the financial and emotional burdens of treatment. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, be sure to take advantage of these resources. If you need help locating a program or service, please reach out and we will help you find the programs that can assist you at zero cost.