Since 2013, over 30 local and area families with a member battling cancer, have been given a special moment in time offered through “Moments by Mutti.”
Kelli Rashid, co-founder and committee member of the organization, knows just how important those moments are for cancer patients and their families. Her own mother, Lynn Saey, was diagnosed with primary central nervous system lymphoma and fought the disease for 11 years before passing away in 2011.
After her mother’s death, the family set up a high school scholarship in her mother’s name and became involved in the annual American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, but they wanted to do more, said Rashid.
“We wanted to do something where we would see the benefits of donations in our community,” she said.
Rashid credits her sister, Tami Bryan, for coming up with the idea for “Moments by Mutti.” Mutti is the German word for mother and it was Tami’s nickname for Lynn.
Instead of handing families in need a cash donation, Rashid said they wanted to provide families with moments with their loved one that could be remembered and cherished.
Since its inception, the organization has not only provided trips, but also experiences for their recipients. The trips are usually two to three days long, and other wishes can be granted as well, making it a mini version of the popular Make-A-Wish foundation.
“The recipient can pick what they want, within reason,” she said.
Past wishes and moments have included sending families to the Wisconsin Dells and a Chicago baseball game. One man requested to sky dive, an item that he was able to cross off his bucket list.
The family and friends of Kewanee Police Chief Nicholas Welgat, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, were sent to a mansion in Morris, Ill., where they were treated to a pool, hot tub and other luxurious amenities.
Not all of the moments need to be so grand, Rashid said. One recipient wasn’t well enough to leave home, so “Moments by Mutti” provided the family with a catered holiday meal. Jeanna Moore, the wife of Kewanee Mayor Gary Moore, and her family will be able to attend a Kansas City Chief’s game and hotel accommodations on Christmas.
When the organization, run by a committee, began ten years ago, a large fundraiser was held each year to raise money and the efforts were successful, but since 2018, the large events have gone by the wayside, Rashid said. The pandemic also threw a wrench into hosting large get-togethers.
Rashid said people are generous with their donations and “Moments by Mutti” has several reliable donors it counts on, but the group is also known for its annual t-shirt sale, the proceeds, of which, go directly to making special memories.
This year, a variety of shirts are offered at an online Breedlove’s store, and people can go online and help support the effort at https://momentsbymutti2023.itemorder.com/.
The online shop offers a variety of t-shirts in an assortment of colors, along with baseball-style jerseys. The front of the shirts read “Enjoy the Moment,” and Rashid said they try to offer trendy designs each year.
The online store is up now until Nov. 12, so customers will need to hurry and get their orders in. The hope is that the shirts are delivered in time for holiday gift-giving.
“That’s the plan as of right now, but if we need to extend it, we can,” she said.
More information about “Moments by Mutti” and how to become a moment recipient can be found on the organization’s Facebook page.
