The Magnets

Have you ever met someone and instantly knew you’d be great friends? You clicked like magnets, and your life feels more balanced because they are in it? That’s how I felt when I met my friend Mandi. She is the brightest light, exuding kindness, generosity, and dedication to everyone she meets. I want to tell you a story about her and her dad Jack... It's a story about love, about endings and about beginnings.

The Assignment

What started as a college assignment to write a blog promoting a charity or cause quickly had me thinking… why don’t we shout from the rooftops, how incredible the people in our lives are? And. Why do we wait until we “have to” share these stories? The world is full of so many breathtaking moments; take this as your “assignment” to tell them. Loudly. From the rooftops (or keyboards).

The Bag

Mandi’s dad was the kind of dad we all dream of. Funny. Brave. Kind. He was her protector and hero. In September 2016, Jack passed away after an incredibly brave battle with Pancreatic cancer. As his "chemo buddy", she felt lucky and honored to have time with him, time to talk about nothing and everything. Mandi shares about one particularly difficult day, a day that was hard and long, but also a day when her dad received a gift and her heart snapped a photo. The gift of a bag, a bag full of items he didn’t ask for, didn't know the giver of and yet felt deeply touched by. A bag that brought giggles and tears over the “manliness” of it and a gift that ultimately and unknowingly would guide Mandi’s healing.

The Mission

To honor every year that her dad lived on this earth (60), Mandi created the non-profit “60 for Jack” with a mission to provide 60 bags of love and comfort items, 4-5 times a year. To give a bit of light to people receiving treatment and fighting bravely.

As of December 2024, 60 for Jack has more than surpassed its goals with over 3000 bags delivered.

How can you help? First, follow the “60 for Jack” Facebook page. Mandi does a great job of keeping it up to date with the most current “bag” plans. Second, if you're able, collect bags, blankets, journals, snacks, cards, lotions, candies, and anything else you think would bring joy to someone enduring chemo.

Bonus points for “manly” donations! Not a shopper but want to support the mission? Cash donations are wonderful and will be put to great use. Feel touched by the story, the mission and the bags but unable to donate? Share this blog or the Facebook page.. you never know who will see it.

Let’s be the givers of light, love and 60 for Jack bags.

While the story of Mandi & Jack doesn’t end how we want it to, like every good story, it has a hero. I’d say the hero is Mandi, turning grief into joy and I bet she’d say it’s the warriors fighting cancer.