Breast Cancer Survivor Tends to Yorktown Families

YORKTOWN, N.Y. — When she was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago, Amy Sayegh found out firsthand how difficult it is to balance grueling treatments with cooking, cleaning and other daily tasks associated with raising a family.

Sayegh also realized that although many are lucky enough to have loved ones pick up the slack while they’re undergoing chemotherapy, a lot of others are not as fortunate. That’s when she created Putnam Community Cares, an organization that delivers food and cleaning services to ease the everyday stresses of families of cancer patients.

“There’s a lot of money going to cancer research but not a whole lot out there to help the families in need,” she said.

Sayegh signed up restaurants around the County to donate one meal a month to the cause. Three years into it, and popular spots such as Chili’s in Somers and Peekskill’s Birdsall House and Taormina Restaurant are among those on board. What's more, clients and volunteers swarm from Somers, Yorktown, Ossining and even New Rochelle in a few cases.

Cleaning service Maid Brigade has since started helping with discounted toilet-scrubbing and rug-vacuuming household tasks, courtesy of the organization.

And on the client's end, appreciation is palpable. For example, Sayegh remembered a woman raising a young family as she was going through chemotherapy. Before the organization stepped in, she would “lie in bed and be upset about how dirty her house was” but couldn’t do anything about it because she was so exhausted.

“She was a stickler for a clean house, so to have somebody come in [and take care of it] was such a blessing,” said Sayegh.

The organization has been met with great demand and with offers from Westchester-ites to join. According to Sayegh, folks now call the charity and volunteer to babysit and tend to garbage pickups, among other chores.

“You have chemotherapy [treatments] all day and then you have to come home and cook dinner. Whether it’s someone watching the kids or whatever else, it’s one less thing you have to think about doing,” Sayegh said.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Yorktown and receive free news updates.