Customers walk down the checkout lane at HomeGoods. Two limited-edition reusable colorful bags catch their eyes – one of an outdoor garden scene with a rainbow, and the other with purple and turquoise abstract shapes. The text at the bottom reads, “DRAWING BY BELLA, AGE 6, a patient in Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund Clinic.”
Six-year-old cancer patient Bella Berg of Lexington is having her artwork featured on reusable bags in HomeGoods and Homesense’s 26th annual in-store fundraising campaign in support of adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. From May 29 through June 27, 900 HomeGoods and Homesense stores nationwide are participating in the campaign. For each bag featuring Bella’s artwork purchased, 50% of the price will go to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Additionally, 750 stores nationwide will be collecting donations at the register; 100% proceeds will go to the organization.
Bella was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in October 2024. Since November 2024, she has been treated at the Jimmy Fund Clinic. She is set to finish treatment this November.
“If it weren’t for Dana-Farber, we’re not sure that Bella would be in the situation that she is in today, and we’ll be forever grateful for the care they gave Bella, and we hope that this research, this money, can kind of go to other life-saving research and all the incredible work that they do,” Sara Berg, Bella’s mother, said.
There are two parts of the campaign, Matt Berg, Bella’s father, explained. One is a dedicated fund which goes to building a young adult lounge at the Dana-Farber center, and the other is an unrestricted fund that goes to supporting what’s needed most urgently.
A little over a year ago, Bella was at the Jimmy Fund Clinic. As she was coloring, Lisa Sherber, the Director of Patient and Family Programs at Dana-Farber, said she thought Bella would be good for the HomeGoods campaign. Bella said yes, and she created artwork at home and then sent it in.
At the time, Bella was in pre-K, taking part in a butterfly unit. Bella’s first design was inspired by that, as well as her love for rainbows, the outdoors and gardening with her grandma, Sara said.
The second design was more abstract.
“She wasn’t sure what she was gonna do, and then she made a mistake, and she said it’s turned into patterns,” Sara said.
Bella ended up making five different drawings, and then they took different parts of them and pieced them together.
Sara said she had known about the fundraiser before, however, she didn’t realize the scope of it.
“It’s very surreal, because it’s hard to sometimes remember that this is our life…I remember going into stores and seeing things like this in the past, not maybe giving it as much notice, and now it’s a little bit crazy that it’s our kid that’s doing that, and we’re actually so grateful for all these opportunities, but there is some degree where you’re like, you know, I didn’t expect this to be part of our story,” Sara said.
In addition to bag purchases, the fundraising campaign includes different themes for every day. Last Friday, for example, was “Wear purple for Bella” day. Throughout the month, Wednesdays are “Wear blue for the Jimmy Fund.”
The campaign also helps spread awareness about the population cancer can affect.
“Anyone can be diagnosed with cancer. It’s not a discriminatory disease, it’s just random, and we’ve connected with a lot of people through the clinic that are going through similar things,” Matt said.
“You always think it’s so rare, and then it’s not gonna happen to you,” Sara said. “It’s actually somewhat more common than you think.”
The campaign encourages community members to look further into these stories and support the cause.
“I will forever stop and read what it’s about, and also read the stories…and learn the story behind whoever is the face of the fundraiser,” Sara said.
Sara and Matt also plan to support the Pan-Mass challenge in August, another fundraiser for Dana-Farber, in which they will ride bikes from Wellesley to Bourne, an 85-mile journey. Bella will be one of the “patient heroes” who the fundraiser is for.
A hero in the community, Bella is a source of hope for other children who may be struggling.
“It always gets better and easier,” Bella said.