KrisTech CARES’ Summer BBQ Fundraiser Ends with Hope Lodge Donation Delivery

Nearly every week this summer, rain or shine, KrisTech CARES team members worked tirelessly at the grill, serving up hundreds of hamburgers, hot dogs, and side dishes for hungry KT employees. 

But what seemed like ordinary family-style cookouts carried a much deeper meaning. Though it’s always nice to get a freshly grilled lunch for a couple bucks, every dollar donated from those BBQ events went to a charity carrying a lot of weight with the company. 

This week, all those burgers and hot dogs culminated in a trip up to the American Cancer Society Golisano Hope Lodge in Rochester. Throughout the summer, the team raised more than $1,508 in employee donations, which helped purchase more than 20 boxes of much-needed supplies for the facility. 

“The incredible people at KrisTech showed up week after week,” Documentation Specialist and CARES Team member Christina Wilcox explained. “Many gave well beyond the cost of their lunch simply because they wanted to support a good cause. But what most of them didn’t realize was that they were doing so much more than buying lunch. They were helping support an organization that had already given so much to one of their own.” 

So Much More Than Lunches 

For several years, KrisTech has partnered with Syracuse’s Golisano Children’s Hospital by donating and dropping off Easter baskets in the spring. Sick children may not have the opportunity to celebrate the holiday at home, so bringing them filled baskets offers a much-needed moment of joy and normalcy to a situation that can feel anything but. 

This year, KrisTech expanded its partnership with the hospital by raising funds for Golisano’s Hope Lodge, a 30-room facility designed for patients receiving cancer treatment at local centers and their caregivers. For those receiving treatment, Hope Lodge means more than free rooms — it offers community during a difficult time. 

For Wilcox, who had stayed at the Hope Lodge for several weeks while receiving cancer treatment, giving back to a place she’s grown close to is a full-circle moment. 

“The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Rochester gave me so much more than a place to stay,” Wilcox said. “Hope Lodge provides cancer patients and their caregivers with a free home away from home while they are receiving treatment. They’re also funded entirely through donations, which makes the generosity of those supporting it especially meaningful. The Rochester location has private rooms, fully equipped community kitchens, laundry facilities, gathering spaces, a library, and, most importantly, a community of people who understand what it means to be going through cancer treatment. For me, it became part of my support system. I felt safe and comfortable during a time when very little about life felt normal.” 

Supporting Those Who Support Others 

Donations are the lifeblood of any charitable organization, and the Hope Lodge is no different. The facility often needs a variety of everyday materials to provide the best support to their guests as possible, including: 

• Kitchen goods 

• Laundry and Cleaning Products 

• Toiletries 

• Coffee 

• Food and Drinks 

For Wilcox, unloading box after box of supplies was not only an act of kindness, but an opportunity to reflect. 

“Standing there and seeing what the KrisTech CARES Team and so many generous people at KrisTech made possible was incredibly emotional for me,” Wilcox explained. “I know firsthand what it means to walk through those doors during one of the hardest times of your life and find a place that makes you feel a little less alone. 

Seeing my coworkers and friends give back so generously to a place that has given so much to me is hard to put into words. It makes me incredibly proud to be part of KrisTech!” 

-------------- 

If you’d like to donate to the American Cancer Society Golisano Hope Lodge, scan the QR code in the image above or click to visit the Hope Lodge link.