There was birthday cake and singing at the Gilda’s Club Lowell Clubhouse last week. However, the celebration wasn’t for a specific member. Instead, the festivities marked the 8th anniversary of the Lowell group.
The group operates under the motto: In this together…Learn. Share. Laugh. For eight years, people have being doing just that. While there are Gilda’s Club locations around the country, staff say the Lowell location is special and a testament to the heart and spirit of the community.
Pink Arrow Prompts Creation of Lowell Clubhouse
Lindsay Jousma, program manager for Gilda’s Club, says the Pink Arrow committee deserves all the credit for bringing the program to Lowell. “After a couple years of Pink Arrow, the leaders in the community came to Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids with their vision,” she says.
The group wanted to build upon the success of Pink Arrow and provide additional resources to local families coping with cancer. Once the Grand Rapids Clubhouse signaled its willingness to expand to Lowell, the group went into action. Senior Neighbors agreed to share its space, and renovations to their Hudson Street building were quickly completed. In only a few short months, the Lowell Clubhouse was ready to launch its programming.
“To make it happen within months is unheard of,” Jousma says. “It’s really a reflection of the community’s support.”
Current Programs for Cancer and Grief Support
The Lowell community’s support didn’t end with the creation of the clubhouse. Numerous groups, businesses and individuals continue to make it possible for Gilda’s Club to provide a variety of services at no cost.
There are educational programs offered in elementary schools while a grief support group is held at Lowell High School for students who have lost a loved one. Throughout the year, there are picnics, parades and a special Christmas party complete Santa handing out gifts.
However, the core of the Lowell Gilda’s Club programming occurs on Tuesday nights. It is then that people from all walks of life gather for dinner at 5:30pm and then separate into various groups. Cancer support and grief groups are available for adults while kids are separated into teen/tween and kids groups. Younger children head to Noogieland where child care is provided while parents attend their sessions. Once a month, there is a special group specifically for those with breast cancer. There are also special family workshops and presentations held on some nights.
Community Comes Together
Jousma says that the community support for these programs has been tremendous. While all the groups are facilitated by a masters level professional, the clubhouse is 80 percent volunteer supported and 100 percent charitably funded.
Tuesday night dinners are one example of how Lowell pulls together to support those on cancer or grief journeys. “Dinner is incredible here,” Jousma says. Every week, a group comes in to provide the meal and dessert. Sports teams, area businesses, church groups and even individual families have stepped up to provide food.
“A huge, huge thank you to the Lowell community,” Jousma says. The past eight years have provided local families with a nearby resource to lean on during tough times, and Jousma says she looks forward to continuing that work in the years to come.
Those interested in learning more about Gilda’s Club can visit the Lowell programs page online. There is no charge to attend Gilda’s Club, and grief groups are available to those mourning a loved one regardless of the cause of death.
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