Families Newsletter
January 2021
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Dear Candlelighters Families,
Happy New Year!
We hope that you are taking care during this winter season. We recognize that navigating through childhood cancer is difficult alone and that the day-to-day during a pandemic is even more challenging. Our staff, chapter leads, and volunteers are committed to figuring out the best ways to keep our Candlelighters community connected and make our support network stronger. We know that connecting with other families going through similar experiences is helpful. We hear you, and even though we can’t gather in person, we hope that our online avenues give you the means to connect.
Are you looking for a way to slow down and spend quality time with your kiddos? Embrace Compassion is opening up their Sherwood farm to Candlelighters families. Please continue to read below for more exciting details on the new Brighter Box Farm Experience and the Volunteer Farmhand Program.
Whatever challenge you may currently be facing today. You got this!
All the best,
Candlelighters
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>>Emergency Financial Assistance |
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Is your child newly diagnosed, or is your child in recurrence?
Make sure to take advantage of our emergency financial assistance. Candlelighters provides up to $599 per year while your child is in treatment.
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>>NEW Farm Visits for Kids in Treatment & Volunteer Opps too! |
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Goats, chickens, a fire pit, a garden, crafts...sound good so far? Even better, the Embrace Compassion Farm in Sherwood was inspired by the founders' own journey with childhood cancer, and it shows in every thoughtful detail from the moment you arrive.
Brighter Box Farm Experience
The farm offers planned monthly visits for kids (aged 1-18) in active treatment and their families to feed the animals, harvest chicken eggs, seasonal vegetables, and fruits. Kids will leave with a take-home Brighter Box connected to what they are harvesting, with reading materials, stickers, a small gift for the family, and a recipe with the ingredients to making something from the farm. To visit the farm, sign up below.
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Volunteer Farmhands
On Sundays, Pre-K to 18-year-old kids post-treatment are welcome to come volunteer with their families and learn from urban farmers and mentors about food sources, and cultivate a lifelong desire of harvesting home-grown items. Working together on garden tasks, our farmhands will engage in conversation, laughter, and learning.
Most of the time, each family will be on-site at one time, maintaining familial pods. At larger events such as the main planting, volunteers will be socially distanced and wearing masks.
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Teens! Come hang out with us Thursdays at 4:30 pm on Discord and Zoom. We chat and play online games.
Art Night with CHAP is coming soon on February 25th, where you can join us for a painting session over Zoom.
New members always welcome!
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Last month, with our bereavement committee’s help, we held our first virtual Time of Remembrance in honor of our children who have passed. We celebrated Holly Bruno, Gio Baggenstos, Levi Harden, Addy Jo Cliffton, Sophia Teddi Lynn, Cherokee Pizano, Jessica Standford, Collin Wilson, and Cameron Hatch. Thank you to CHAP and Dr. Marianne Kabour for hosting a night of sharing and painting! Our committee is meeting monthly to plan future events. If you are interested in future bereavement gatherings, please email Lisa.
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>>Your Feedback Needed! (Surveys are Fun) |
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Parents who are years out of initial diagnosis: We would like to hear from you! Please take our short survey about your childhood cancer experience and connection to Candlelighters. Complete the survey for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Please complete by 2/1/21 to be entered into the raffle!
P.S. This has nothing to do with dogs, but we thought this guy in bunny ears might grab your attention!
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Every quarter we feature a Candlelighters Family in our Donor Newsletter. We decided to start featuring them on our Family Newsletter as well. This quarter we are featuring the Archer-Masters family. To read more about their journey click here.
Thank you to all of the families that have also submitted their stories in the past. Story-telliing is a powerful tool to create connections in our community and with our donors. Click here to read past stories. If you want to nominate a family to be featured, or volunteer to share your story, please email Angela.
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Family game nights hosted by the Luminaries are fun for all ages, and going strong!
Next game Night: January 27, 7pm
Theme: The Last Decade (2010-2020) Trivia!
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>> Parent Support Group - Monthly Online Meet Ups |
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Are you a parent or caregiver looking to connect with other parents?
We host monthly parent/caregiver support groups where you have the opportunity to meet other parents who understand the cancer experience. Join us for our support group, facilitated by Dr. Marianne Kabour.
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>> Candlelighters Families Facebook Group
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Do you have any questions or suggestions that could benefit other parents? Or any tips and tricks about navigating the hospital system. We welcome you to share your wealth of information there.
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Candlelighters Family Connections
Family Activities are always FREE for Candlelighters families, and you are always welcome to join other Chapter activities as well.
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