Lemons of Love, which distributes chemo care and personalized care packages to cancer patients throughout the world, featuring items designed to ease side effects commonly associated with chemotherapy treatments, is aiming to expand is efforts in Sheboygan County though its new location in Plymouth, Wis.

(PLYMOUTH, WIS.) December 2, 2022 – Eight years after setting out on a mission to provide community-based support to those impacted by the challenges of cancer out of its headquarters in Mount Prospect, Ill., Lemons of Love is aiming to deliver a pinch of sweetness to individuals faced with sour circumstances in Sheboygan County through the addition of a second location in the heart of bustling downtown Plymouth, Wis.

Lemons of Love shares chemo care and personalized care packages with cancer patients throughout the world, featuring items designed to ease side effects commonly associated with chemotherapy treatments such as organic lemon drops to help with the metallic taste from chemo, ginger tea for nausea and insomnia, organic body lotion for dry skin, lip balm from local brand Olivu Organic Products for chapped lips, drawings from kids meant to bring joy along with other items aiming to provide comfort.

“We deliver chemo care packages to hospitals and oncology centers, along with personalized care packages for individuals through a donation,” Lemons of Love Marketing Director Maren Paige said.

In addition, Lemons of Love provides yoga, meditation and creative arts programming and ongoing family support services at the Lemons of Love Cancer Resource Center, which opened in Mount Prospect, Ill. in 2018, with the Plymouth, Wis. location following suit at 607 Eastern Ave. in 2021.

Since its inception, Lemons of Love has shared more than 26,000 care packages and offered more than 400 free in-person and virtual classes.

“We offer free programs for anyone impacted by cancer and one-on-one family support at our Mount Prospect, Illinois and Plymouth, Wis. locations,” Lemons of Love founder Jill Swanson said. “We are drawing on the saying, ‘When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.’ In other words, when something bad is happening in your life, try to find something good and make the best of it.”

Swanson started the 501c3 non-profit organization in 2014 after she was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer.

“When I began chemotherapy, a friend gave me a small gift filled with items to help me get through my treatment,” Swanson said. “I was really touched by the kindness and thoughtfulness of this gift during a difficult time in my life. I knew immediately this was something every cancer patient should receive.”

In 2015, Lemons of Love created a donation-based program allowing individuals to send a care package to a loved one with an annual Veterans care package program added in 2016, along with a kids holiday care package in 2017.

Looking ahead to 2023, Lemons of Love is gearing up to raise its profile in and around Sheboygan County through a variety of community-based programs and initiatives based out of its historic Plymouth, Wis. office building.

“I am from Mount Prospect, Illinois and my parents were involved in racing, so we made many trips to Elkhart Lake for races at Road America,” Swanson said. “I now have a house in Elkhart Lake close to the track. Over the past few years, I built a plan to introduce Lemons of Love in Sheboygan County and surrounding areas. We are currently gearing up to launch some new programs in the area in the spring. Our hope is to boost awareness and the overall reach and impact of Lemons of Love in the community around our Plymouth location in 2023.”

The Plymouth, Wis. Lemons of Love location will also serve to carry out the core component of Lemons of Love’s mission – the delivery of chemo care packages to hospitals and cancer care centers in the Sheboygan County area.

“We will be using the space for programs for those impacted by cancer, as well as for care package distribution to local cancer centers, such as the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic and hospitals in both the Froedtert and Advocate Aurora Health Systems,” Paige said. “We also have some additional plans for the beautiful outdoor garden space adjacent to the Plymouth Lemons of Love building along the Mullet River. We are looking forward to creating a natural, relaxing, peaceful area as we grow in Plymouth and throughout the Sheboygan County area.”

For more information on sending a Lemons of Love personalized care package, making a donation and serving as a volunteer, contact Jill Swanson at jill@lemonsoflove.org, Maren Paige at maren@lemonsoflove.org, call 920-501-0100, visit https://lemonsoflove.org or check out Lemons of Love on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.