Assistance League members distributed over 200 free handmade hats, “knitted knocker” breast
prostheses, comfort shawls, and therapeutic heat pillows to race participants at the Heaven Can
Wait event that was held October 1, 2023.
Assistance League of Bend has been a participating vendor at the annual Heaven Can Wait 5K
walk/run since 2014. This event draws hundreds together with a shared mission to raise funds
for Sara’s Project, a fund of St. Charles Foundation. Sara’s Project provides education, early
detection, and support services to ease the challenges of breast cancer for people in Central
and Eastern Oregon.
Assistance League members and volunteers meet several times a month to handcraft the hats,
“knitted knockers”, comfort shawls and therapeutic pillows. Since its inception, the Hats and More
program has supplied thousands of  these handmade items to the infusion centers located at
St. Charles and Summit Health, as well as to participants at the annual Heaven Can Wait event.