The pandemic has forced everything to change.

This year, the local chapter of the American Cancer Society will have to again be innovative in an attempt to make up for prior monetary losses.

The society’s biggest annual fundraiser for the telethon is the Relay for Life, which didn’t happen anywhere in 2020.

“Last year, they were all canceled,” said Joe Krushinsky, chairman of the local American Cancer Society Telethon.

“The fundraisers that they can have, people are worried about participating. And with all of this going on, there are other causes that have gotten a lot of attention.”

Every 2021 event will be extremely critical for the organization. The society’s fundraising continues with its event in progress, the daffodil campaign.

“The daffodil campaign hasn’t been this important in 20 years,” Krushinsky said. “We’re working on trying to make up for everything that didn’t happen - basically a half year of nothing.

“You can go on the website and order them. Nobody has to pay until the flowers are delivered. All we need to know is that someone wants flowers, and we’ll deal with the cash on delivery day.”

There are currently nine events planned for this year, which culminate on Labor Day. In addition to many traditional happenings, they’ve included other events, such as a golf tournament, which will be at Mountain Valley Golf Course in May.

Krushinsky and volunteers will even be selling a local favorite, potato pancakes, in front of the West Ridge Street office in Lansford on March 26.

“Every couple of weeks we’re going to have something going on - we’re trying to connect with different parts of the community,” Krushinsky said.

All the fundraisers culminate with the American Cancer Society Telethon of Eastern Pennsylvania, to be broadcast live this year from Penn’s Peak on Aug. 14-15.

Last year the event was limited to the Blue Ridge Cable studio, with performers appearing virtually or by recording. The event raised $178,975.

Krushinsky hopes to get back to the pre-pandemic record of $250,334 raised in 2019.

A date is to be determined for the luminaria service and Relay for Life of the Anthracite Region.

Krushinsky said the nonprofit is actively looking for interested volunteers to help out.

“We need more volunteers,” Krushinsky said. “There are a million things that people can do. You can come to a meeting; you can come to the office or sit at your kitchen table and get stuff done too.

“There is so much to do, you can do it in groups, individually at home. If anyone wants to say I’m available, I will tell you everything that goes on and that person can tell me which part they want to fit in.”

Krushinsky said daffodils will be sold until March 16 and possibly even up to delivery day.

To order a daffodil, or to volunteer, call 570-805-4555, or visit cancertelethon.org/daffodils.

Donations can be made over the phone by calling 800-883-2109.

“People were great about making everything come together last August,” Krushinsky added. “We thought we would be back in April, but the world didn’t change fast enough.”

Event calendar

March 23-25 - Daffodil Days of Carbon, Schuylkill and Monroe Counties

May 21-22 - Pre-Tournament Deck Party & Golf Tournament at Mountain Valley Golf Course

June 5 - Mudflaps presented by Cancer Telethon at Lakeside Ballroom

July 24-25 - Basket Raffle/Super Prize Raffle at Lakeside Ballroom

TBA - Luminaria service - Relay for Life of the Anthracite Region

Aug. 14-15 - American Cancer Society Telethon of Eastern Pennsylvania live from Penn’s Peak

Sept. 6 - Raft Race & Finish line Festival at Lehighton Outdoor Center; ZooStock Free Outdoor Concert at Halftime Bar & Grill, Lansford