Tucked away in a small office space off Front Street in Scotch Plains is an organization that’s working to help children with cancer across the state.

In these tough financial times, the need has never been greater at the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation.

Managing Director Carol Davis recently told Patch that the center is currently serving approximately 240 children in New Jersey, which is their highest caseload ever. At the same time, funding is down and the need for financial and material donations is great.

“It’s getting harder and harder every day, but we haven’t said no to anybody,” Davis said.

Founded in 1983, the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation works to provide children with cancer and their families with the emotional, material and financial support they need. While the organization has four regional centers throughout the state, its home base is in Scotch Plains.

Providing that support isn’t easy, though, as the center relies on the help of volunteers and donations to help make it possible.

This year alone, the center has had one of its grants cut by almost half.

“One $30,000 grant, we just got a letter saying it’ll be $18,000 this year,” Davis said. “We’ve depended on that money, and I don’t know where we’re going to find it.”

The foundation works to provide families with the resources they need to get through such a difficult time, and they need help in a variety of capacities to make it happen. Davis said a big part of what they do is pairing each family with a caseworker who acts as a support system, helping them get a better understanding of the services out there.

“They have a relationship with the family as long as the family needs help,” she said.

The foundation also provides families with items such as food, clothing, books, games and other donated household items. Each regional center is stocked with some combination of these things. On a recent weekday, the main lobby of the Scotch Plains center was crowded with book bags filled with school supplies for the children.

Barbara Kopel is the regional director in Scotch Plains. Her center, which is housed in the basement of the foundation’s headquarters, currently serves close to 50 families in Union, Somerset, Upper Middlesex and Hunterdon counties.

Kopel works daily to coordinate getting the items in her center to the families who need them. She also regularly networks with the caseworkers, sends out mailings and helps plan the foundation’s large fundraising events, like their 12th annual Celebration of Champions Golf outing that’s coming up on Oct. 5 at the Suburban Golf Club in Union. For more information, go here.

Volunteers are regularly coming in and out helping with these tasks.

“You never have a quiet day, and that’s a good thing,” Davis said.

Davis said that an important part of what they do is serving the whole family, not just the child with cancer. When toys or other children’s items are distributed, they’re given to every child in the family, not just the one who has been diagnosed. During the holiday season, the center accepts wish lists that encompass everyone.

In addition to providing families with items they may need, the foundation also offers financial support.

“When a family has a child with cancer, there are so many hidden financial costs,” Davis said. “If there’s two parents, there’s a good chance one will stop working. We can’t let a child be cold and have no heat, especially when they’re getting chemo.”

Davis said that when she started working with the organization, they were taking referrals based on financial need. But, she decided that everyone deserved to be helped, so she shifted the foundation’s mission to be one that includes everyone.

Some families come to them via word of mouth, Davis said, but many others are referred by social workers.

“Some families definitely don’t like to ask for help,” she said. “But the families most strongly affected are middle class families who can’t take part in public assistance programs. Our mission isn’t to change their lives, but to preserve the quality of their life so that it’s like it was the day before the diagnosis.”

Davis said all of the foundation’s regional centers are continually accepting donations. Anyone interested in helping at the center in Scotch Plains can either drop items off at their 1833 Front Street location. They can also be reached by calling 908-322-4323.