Recipient FAQs: Grant Eligibility, Gas Cards & How to Apply

Pawsitively 4 Pink provides financial assistance grants that cover essential living expenses for Massachusetts women in breast cancer treatment. Grants are paid directly to your service providers. We do not provide cash to applicants.

Some of the ways we help:

• Rent or mortgage payments: breast cancer help with rent so you can stay in your home
• Electric bills
• Heating oil
• Gas cards for driving to treatment
• Transportation fees

Eligible women can apply once per year; grant amounts depend on available funds.

Yes. Gas cards are one of the most common ways we help women get to chemotherapy, radiation, and appointments. As part of a Pawsitively 4 Pink grant, eligible women receive free gas cards for cancer treatment travel at no cost to them.

Our gas card assistance is for Massachusetts women in active breast cancer treatment or up to 6 months out of treatment, with an individual income of $25,000 or less or a total family income of $42,000 or less, so it works like free gas cards for low income patients. If you’re searching for gas card assistance near you in Worcester or anywhere in Massachusetts, apply for assistance here.

Yes. Heating oil and electric bills are among the essential expenses our grants cover, and payment goes directly to your fuel or utility company. For additional home heating oil assistance in Massachusetts, you can also apply to the state’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) through your local fuel assistance agency.

1. If you are a woman who lives in Massachusetts
2. If you are in active treatment or up to 6 months out of treatment
3. Individual income of $25,000 or less or a total family annual income of $42,000 or less

Not sure if you qualify? Call (978) 747-5683; one conversation will sort it out.

Here is how to apply for cancer grants from Pawsitively 4 Pink. Go to our Apply for Assistance page and:

1. Complete the online assistance application (takes about 10 minutes).
2. Download, sign, and return the HIPAA privacy form (PDF).
3. Submit your doctor’s letter (on official letterhead).
4. Submit proof of income.

• Pawsitively 4 Pink holds four major fundraisers per calendar year and several smaller fundraisers throughout the year
• Local and national businesses
• Individual contributors

At this time, we allow one application per year. We limit the number of times a person applies and the amount of money allotted to each individual based on the amount of money P4P is able to raise throughout the year.

Once we have received a completed application, a signed HIPAA form, and a letter from the doctor treating you, the decision could take up to 4 weeks. We do our best to reply as quickly as we can, knowing that financial stress can delay the healing process.

Yes. Every application is reviewed confidentially, and your medical information is protected by the signed HIPAA form. Your story stays private unless you ever choose to share it.

No referral is needed. Any eligible woman can apply directly. Many applications do come through hospital social workers, and we welcome those referrals, but you can start your application yourself today.

Because grants depend on the funds we raise, we sometimes can’t help everyone at once. If we can’t assist you right now, we’ll tell you honestly, point you to other Massachusetts resources where we can, and you’re welcome to apply again the following year.