Jerry Blackshear, 55, was diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring of 2008 and had radiation treatment. She received a grant from the East Bay Breast Cancer Emergency fund, a program funded solely by Friends of Faith:

"I went and bought things I really needed like shirts, bras, underwear, food and sheets for my bed. I also bought a step ladder because I needed that badly to help me get to my pantry. I'm on disability so the money really helped me tremendously. I was so flabbergasted by how everyone was helping me with the cancer. It really helped me not to be so scared anymore. I really hope other people can benefit like I did.

Elaine "River" Green, 59, breast cancer survivor - served by the Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic one of the organizations funded by Friends of Faith

When I got diagnosed with breast cancer, it was an agonizing experience. When illness takes over your life you become a different person. No one can come to your aid, even your own family. I needed support, but I didn't even know where to turn. If it hadn't been for Charlotte Maxwell, I don't know what I would have done. They gave me acupuncture, they gave me creams to treat the rashes that I got from radiation. I could have never afforded that, nor the meals they gave me, on my fixed income.

Patricia Wright, 60, from Oakland, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2007. She received a grant from the East Bay Breast Cancer Emergency fund, a program funded solely by Friends of Faith:

"I was in a bind. I had so many problems with my landlord. I told him I had cancer but he told me he had nothing to do with that. He wanted his house back so I had to find a new house. When they sent me the check for $500, I was able to put down what I needed for the new place. I didn't know what I was going to do. It really helped me a lot.

Erin Dunn, 46, from Martinez, was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer. She received a grant from the East Bay Breast Cancer Emergency fund, a program funded solely by Friends of Faith. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments:

"I had to leave work . I was like, oh my God, I hope I'm not going to lose my house on top of everything else. I had a little bit of money in my checking account but that $600 really saved me until my disability kicked in. Thank you so much!"