Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo Jessica Battan of Quinnesec displays some of the items in the Compassion for Chemo 906 bags, an organization she founded after she received a care bag while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The Community Christian Women of Iron County is hosting a fundraiser for Compassion for Chemo 906 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Windsor Center in Iron River.

IRON RIVER — Community Christian Women of Iron County is hosting a Compassion for Chemo 906 benefit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Windsor Center in Iron River. The event includes a free lunch. They request those who plan to attend the lunch RSVP.

The group planned the event for their friend, Janice Meyer, whose daughter, Jessica Battan of Quinnesec, was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. Battan started the Compassion for Chemo 906 program after she received a care bag while receiving treatment at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Wis.

“It was special because it had a bunch of stuff in there that I didn’t even know I’d end up using as much as I did. Plus it was really thoughtful to get something from someone that I didn’t even know but obviously either had a loved one go through or they had gone through it themselves. I used it with all my treatments,” Battan said.

Battan will give a presentation during Saturday’s event about her battle with the disease and her recovery. She is now cancer-free.

They are collecting items that will be placed in chemo bags that will be distributed to local hospitals. Suggested items include cloth bags, blankets, healthy energy snacks, mint/ginger/lemon hard candy, unscented lotion, warm socks, hats, tissues, water flavorings with electrolytes, playing cards, activity books, adult coloring books, colored pencils/pens/markers, journals, encouraging notes. Monetary donations will also be accepted.

Community Christian Women began about two years ago with the mission to “encourage women in their walk with God — knowing Jesus as savior and lord is the first step.” The group was started by Silvia Lindow, along with Carla Thoune and Peggy Smith.

Lindow was part of the Grace Covenant Women’s Ministry group, which hosted an event where they gathered for coffee and talked about encouraging women.

“A lady was there from Carla’s church. She said, ‘This is great, I have a friend moving here from Menominee.’ She put me in touch with Carla. We started talking and notifying area churches and asking the women if they would like to be a part of this,” Lindow said.

There are nine local churches represented in the group. Thoune was been involved in several Christian Women’s Groups.

“It’s exciting to see the growth and more churches being involved,” Thoune said.

They host community events every other month.

“Between the three of us, we’re kind of the lead, but we do have a team and we all work together,” Thoune said. “In the beginning I came up with the different ideas, but then it evolved. Everyone has awesome ideas.”

“That’s where the Compassion for Chemo 906 benefit came from. ‘Wouldn’t that be great. We can let her tell her story.’ Cancer affects everyone. It doesn’t matter the age, the gender. We would like to help other organizations, as we share God and how he can help us through things and how we can help you,” she added. “Sometimes these events are to help other organizations, like Jessica, and getting the word out there, some kind of a service project and sometimes they are just for fun.”

“Like the craft day,” Lindow said.

The craft day will be Nov. 8, but a location hasn’t been determined yet. On Jan. 24, they plan to host a movie matinee at the Windsor Center. The event will be for women and girls ages 10 and older. Discussion time will follow the movie.

“Doesn’t matter what church you are involved in, we are there to help you,” Thoune said.

For more information and other upcoming events, check the group’s Facebook page.

Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.