Today we’d like to introduce you to Candis Cammon.
Hi Candis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Boxes of Love started out with me bringing in items to my chemotherapy appointments that I thought would be helpful or encouraging to others. While receiving my chemotherapy treatments at the time, they could sometimes take 8 hours just depending on different factors. I noticed that a lot of people were there alone and would come in with just a phone or maybe a small magazine. Volunteers did a great job of accommodating where they could – but often times the things that were available were general and not specific to the person. I am an over-packer – I tend to have more than what I need “just in case”. So, I would generally have coloring books, crosswords, journal, electronic devices, cozy socks, snacks, my favorite blanket, pillow, etc. Most of the items I wouldn’t even use but knowing that I had them was a comfort to me. So, what I then started doing was bringing even more store – a small duffle bag – and I would look for someone who didn’t have anything, or I noticed had been by themselves, and I would offer to share what I had. I would also write cards of encouragement or prayers and leave them on the seats for them to be found later on. It was fun for me and really did change the disposition of the people who would receive the items – we would talk, share stories – it made the time go by so much faster. After I was done with chemotherapy, I realized that we all need some love from time to time – especially those who are in fact living, treating, and managing chronic illnesses. So, I created a Facebook and Instagram and just started sharing what I do. People would send me a message, answer a few questions, and then I create a Box of Love and send it their way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road at all. It has been a learning process from the logistics of packaging and shipping to the emotional connection that is made through the Boxes. During Covid, shipping became hard because of the actual virus and making sure everything that I received and handled was done safely. Also, the cost, I operate off of donations only, specifically donations of the actual items that go in the Boxes, and I pay shipping. There were unexpected increases and also a general slowdown of mail distribution so I would have to communicate with recipients to let them know what was going on. Then there is the emotional connection. Behind each Box is a real person with a very real story. Having firsthand knowledge of what some of those emotions are as I have experienced them myself, I formed bonds with people. So, it was not just sending a Box and be done. They will keep me updated about treatments, appointments and I am a believer so there were many times where we would pray together. There have been recipients who have died, and it was hard for me – they all hold a special place in my heart.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Know what you do and do it well. Often times we will try to run from the things that we don’t like. We want to get through the hard season as fast as possible and move on to the next. Press into everything that is happening in your life, the good and the bad, and it will all be used for your purpose. That mentor is going to guide you to a space for you to be your authentic self. They aren’t going to push you to do something that you weren’t made to do but allow you to dig a little deeper to see how it has been there all along.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: boxes_of.love
- Facebook: Boxes of Love
