CANFIELD — A nonprofit centered on supporting people battling cancer continues to pave the road for its future, and will soon take over a new storefront — its third — in Canfield.

Yellow Brick Place is expanding at 2959 Canfield Road in the Brandywine Plaza.

It will allow the cancer wellness center to continue to expand on its many services and programs.

Later this year, the YBP main offices will be moved to the new space.

Yellow Brick Place became a foundation in 2012 and three years later opened the doors of its present facility to serve cancer patients.

YBP helps 40 to 50 cancer patients every month and just as many through support groups.

“Our founders are Anna Aey and Donna (Giambattista) Detwiler,” Executive Director Kathleen Moliterno said. “Both are cancer survivors. Donna passed away, but Anna is still with us.”

She said when Donna was diagnosed, she had to travel to Cleveland to get services and take part in programs at a place called the “Gathering Place.”

“She wondered why people needed to travel that far, so she began the foundation,” Moliterno said.

The basis of the foundation is to provide cancer patients with help and support they couldn’t otherwise receive. That help includes free wigs and programs that brought men and women together to support one another and make the journey together.

Free wigs is one of the foundation’s big programs. Moliterno said when a woman is diagnosed with cancer and goes through chemotherapy, it can mean total hair loss. While not as devastating for men, for women it brings strong emotional stress.

“Women who come to YBP have lost all of their hair including their eyebrows,” Moliterno said. “When they leave YBP, they leave with a smile.”

YBP offers new wigs in an array of colors and styles. Each wig is given without charge to the cancer patient along with training in using and caring for it.

Along with the wig, the patient receives a make-up kit and is shown how to draw eye brows with a brow pencil. Topping off the gifts are a pair of earrings.

Angela Palumbo runs ”Your Beauty Program” using the YBP letters. She is not new to the work though. She used to do the same for the American Cancer Society when it had a local program in the area. When that went away, Palumbo brought her knowledge to YBP and continued the beauty program.

“We helped one young woman who worked a 2-to- 10 p.m. job,” Moliterno said. “She knew she had cancer and her hair was falling out in big chunks. She emailed us at 10 a.m., came into YBP and received a wig and beauty training. She made it to work and no one knew she had cancer.”

While the wigs, beauty products and program are big parts of what YBP does, it is just one piece of the pie. The nonprofit welcomes anyone with any type of cancer to take part in the free programs.

They can participate in chair yoga, reiki energy healing, Tai Chi, art therapy, nutrition programs and other types of assistance. Moliterno said the staff of 12 to 15 volunteers will go out of their way to help cancer patients.

They also have a way to help women who went through a mastectomy.

YBP has a variety of what is called “knitted knockers” and port pillows, used for vehicle seat belt restraints.

No one ever is charged for the wigs, beauty supplies or services. That includes attending support groups and classes. YBP relies totally on donations, grants and fundraisers.

The next big fundraiser for YBP will be the annual Spring for the Cause raffle. It will take place April 11 with early bird prizes drawn Thursday.

Moliterno said YBP is the only wellness center in the Mahoning Valley. It serves Western Pennsylvania and Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties.

For the future, Moliterno said YBP would love to have its own building and be able to have a garden. For now that is not in the budget, but the garden has taken a small turn.

In YBP’s second section of the plaza, there is a special indoor rock garden.

“Since we couldn’t have a garden, we were allowed to have that,” said Moliterno. “It is called ‘Christine’s Garden’ and was put together by husband Jack Savage to honor his beloved wife Christina (Camardese) Savage.”

Christina had a tough 10-year battle with brain cancer and passed away in 2009 at the very young age of 31. She was one week away from turning 32. Her memory lives on and serves as an inspiration for others in the literal fight of their lives.

No matter who comes to YBP, the staff and programs are there to help and support them along the way, just as the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion helped Dorothy along her path in the Wizard of Oz. Those characters are a part of the atmosphere at YBP.

Moliterno added YBP is not just for women. She said men with cancer are served as well.

YBP is the only cancer wellness center in the Mahoning Valley, providing support services to survivors, families and caregivers.

Have an interesting story idea? Email J.T. Whitehouse at jtwhitehouse@vindy.com.