Nourishing Hope: How East Jefferson General Hospital’s Fundraiser Fills the Gap in Cancer Patients’ Nutritional Needs

Through creative fundraising efforts like hospital-wide bake sales, East Jefferson General Hospital Cancer Center is helping head and neck cancer patients access vital tube-feeding formulas often not covered by insurance.

When Jordan Melancon, RD, LDN, a clinical outpatient dietitian at East Jefferson General Hospital Cancer Center, meets a new patient, it’s often someone facing a daunting cancer diagnosis. As an essential part of the cancer care team, she specializes in oncology dietetics, helping patients navigate one of the most difficult aspects of treatment—maintaining proper nutrition.

“My role is primarily referral-based,” said Jordan. “Most of the patients I work with are head and neck cancer patients, because of their unique nutrition needs. I follow them throughout treatment—and sometimes even after—until they are nutritionally stable enough to move forward on their own.”

For many of these patients, swallowing becomes painful or even impossible during radiation or chemotherapy. By the second or third week of cancer treatment, some can no longer eat solid food. In severe cases, patients are unable to swallow even their own saliva. At that point, feeding tubes—often PEG tubes placed directly into the stomach—become essential for survival.

But feeding tubes require specialized formulas, and these don’t come cheap. “Some of our patients face out-of-pocket costs anywhere from $300 to $2,000 a month for three to six months,” Jordan explained. “And depending on their insurance, the formula may not be covered at all.”

Identifying a Hidden Need

All patients who require tube feeding need what is known as “high-calorie, low-volume” formulas. “Since they cannot tolerate large amounts of liquid, their nutrition must be delivered in concentrated form, packed with calories to fully meet their needs,” explained Jordan.

While Medicaid covers tube feeding formulas, many commercial insurance plans, including some of the most common PPOs, deny coverage. Roughly 18% of Jordan’s patients receive no coverage for this critical nutrition. After seeing denial after denial, Jordan dug into policy documents and discovered a troubling gap: although patients with conditions like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and head and neck cancer might technically qualify with an appeal, in practice, approvals were almost never granted.

“We’ve appealed for our head and neck cancer patients, and in my previous work with ALS, we appealed for those patients as well,” said Jordan. “I have never seen a case approved. That’s when I realized this was a financial burden that could not be ignored.”

A Bake Sale With a Bigger Purpose

Jordan and her colleagues brought the issue to East Jefferson’s Supportive Services team, a group that includes nurses, social workers, cancer center leadership, dietitians, and other staff. Together, they brainstormed ways to help patients bridge this gap. The solution had to be simple, low-cost, and community driven.

The answer? A hospital-wide bake sale.

Employees from across the cancer center—staff, management, even schedulers—contributed baked goods. Tables were set up in high-traffic areas of the hospital, where staff, patients, and visitors could donate whatever amount they chose for a sweet treat. The generosity was overwhelming.

“Some people donated $5 for a brownie. Others gave $20 for a cookie,” Jordan recalled. “It was heartwarming to see people’s willingness to give, and to see them learning about this need that most never knew existed.”

The first bake sale in April of this year exceeded expectations. The second, held in July, doubled down on that success. In total, nearly $5,000 was raised—enough to provide immediate relief for several patients in need of formula.

Beyond Expectations, Toward the Future

The fundraiser has already surpassed the team’s initial goals, but Jordan and her colleagues are just getting started. The Supportive Services team is now exploring other creative ideas—quarterly bake sales, raffles, and new events to keep the momentum going without “fundraiser fatigue.”

Most importantly, the initiative has shown patients that they are not alone.

“It’s been incredibly uplifting to see how many people are willing to give their time, money, and energy to support these patients,” Jordan said. “It’s a reminder that when someone is fighting cancer, they shouldn’t also have to fight for their basic nutrition.”

How You Can Help

This effort began as a grassroots project by a dedicated team at East Jefferson General Hospital’s Cancer Center but it’s grown into something bigger. If you’d like to donate funds, contribute baked goods, or volunteer your time for future events, please reach out to:

Jordan Melancon, Clinical Outpatient Dietitian II, at jordan.melancon@lcmchealth.org

This initiative has already shown what’s possible when a compassionate care team and a supportive community come together. The funds raised mean patients don’t have to choose between life-saving treatment and the basic nutrition that sustains them. Every dollar donated is more than just financial relief—it’s dignity, strength, and hope during one of the hardest journeys a person can face.

Together, we can ensure no patient at East Jefferson General Hospital’s Cancer Center faces cancer treatment on an empty stomach.

For more information about our Cancer Center and dietitian services, please visit East Jefferson General Hospital Tulane Cancer Center | LCMC Health