Michele Nieber, who is known as the “blessings lady” in her Sunday school group, donates 25 bags every other month to cancer patients with the help of her church group at First Baptist Church in Machesney Park. (Photo by Mary Sisk/Rock River Current)
By Mary Sisk
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city’s “blessings lady” delivered 25 gift bags on Thursday to cancer patients at the UW Health Regional Cancer Center.

Michele Nieber and her Sunday school group at First Baptist Church in Machesney Park make 25 “blessing bags” that they donate to UW Health every other month.

This is their second time donating, and the project began as a way for the church to show love in the community.

“For my Sunday school group, I am the blessings lady,” Nieber said. “I had talked to my Sunday school leader and we had decided that the blessing bags for the cancer patients would be wonderful.”

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The bags include personal hygiene items, handmade fidget toys and homemade personal cards with encouraging words written in them.

“We want it to be personal,” Nieber said. “We want to let the patient know that there have been people who have spent, sometimes hours, crafting something especially for them.”

Nieber and her group have all experienced cancer personally or in their family. They want to let patients know they understand and care.

“We are just hoping that people will realize that when you’re going through that time of your life, and it’s a trial, there are people out there that really do seriously care,” Nieber said. “Those little encouragements to somebody, especially somebody you don’t know, really makes a big difference.”

Michele Nieber gifting one of her blessing bags to patient, Ron Tilton at UW Health Regional Cancer Center, 3535 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. (Photo by Mary Sisk/Rock River Current).

This article is by Mary Sisk. Email her at msisk@rockrivercurrent.com or follow her on Instagram at @maryrrcurrent

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