Contribute to the dignity and agency of pediatric cancer warriors by participating in two virtual opportunities that support an organization that serves them.
1. Virtual tour of the nonprofit center
Go on a virtual tour of this nonprofit’s counseling headquarters – starting outside of their center just as if you were there in person! The goal is to make your group feel like they are actually there taking a tour.
During the tour, the nonprofit’s staff will discuss how the organization was founded, as well as the programs that they've launched since. One such project is the design and dissemination of chemotherapy apparel for children. This special clothing has adaptive zippers, buttons, and snaps, allowing nurses to check on a child's port while allowing them to remain covered up. They were designed with input from pediatric patients, and come in a variety of styles and colors.
After, you will tour their play therapy room and learn about the organization's free counseling services, and how they have made an impact on the mental health of survivors. Next, you will get to see the nonprofit’s "fun room," which is where they pack kits for their cancer warriors. You'll learn what goes in these kits, and how your visit contributes to them.
Finally, you will get to see a mural featuring the handprints of the nonprofit's cancer warriors. There will be a discussion about how the nonprofit focuses on the needs of the children “here and now” in order to give as many good days as possible.
2. Virtual gift-making activity
For the second part of this experience, your group will be presented with an opportunity to create uplifting gifts for the nonprofit's cancer warriors. You will then send the items to the nonprofit by post or by physically dropping them off. This gift-making activity is family friendly, so you can involve your children and other household members as well. Options for gifts include:
- Making cards for children in the hospital
This activity doesn’t require anything other than materials you have around your house (plus a stamp to mail!) - Making blankets
The nonprofit will send you the link to order the materials from Amazon (expect to spend $25 per blanket) - Making craft packs that are delivered to children in the hospital
The nonprofit will send you a link to order the supplies
At the end of the gift-making activity, you will receive instructions outlining how to send the items to the organization.
This experience will proceed as follows:
- Introductions and Welcome (5 minutes)
- Tour (20 minutes)
- Explanation and Visual Demonstration of the Gift-making Activity (5 minutes)
- Q&A (5-10 minutes)
- Mailing Instructions (1 minute)