When November rolls around, you can count on SSgt. Jennifer Watt of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) to rally her co-workers, friends, family and Hall County students to make chemo care bags for cancer patients undergoing treatment at the Longstreet Clinic Cancer Center.
SSgt. Watt launched this effort with her mother Aletha Lyons as Ms. Lyons was undergoing treatment for small cell lung cancer in 2019. The two would pack bags for other cancer patients. Her mother passed away in 2020, but she knew she wanted to carry on the mission as a way to honor her. It happens in November because November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Because Watt is an SRO (School Resource Officer), she gets students involved in the project. Four Innovation classes at Cherokee Bluff High School helped pack the bags this year. Students from school clubs at Banks County High also assisted this year.
“The kids were awesome and did a great job,” SSgt. Watt said. “Some of the girls even took the time to color coordinate the items when they packed the totes!”
This year, SSgt. Watt was able to drop off 165 bags, the largest donation yet.