Pink Arrow Pride: Lowell Area Schools Athletes Making a Difference at Gilda’s

In the weeks leading up to the Pink Arrow game on September 22, 2023, we will be sharing stories from Pink Arrow Pride. Don’t forget to mark your calendar for Community Day on September 7, 2023 when you can purchase your Pink Arrow XVI shirt at the Bob Perry Stadium at Lowell High School.

The Gilda’s Club Lowell clubhouse is located at the First Congregational UCC of Lowell at 865 Lincoln Lake SE. and is shared with Lowell Senior Neighbors. The Clubhouse and local programming are funded in part by Pink Arrow Pride. The core of Lowell Gilda’s programming occurs on Tuesday nights. It is then that people from all walks of life gather for dinner and then meet in small cancer or grief support groups. All the services provided at the Lowell Clubhouse are offered free of charge.

For years, the Lowell Athletic Boosters has partnered with Gilda’s Club Lowell to schedule student athletes to supply, cook and serve Supper Together Dinners on Tuesday evenings. During COVID, the meals had to pause but last Fall it was safe to begin offering this service again.

“As a new incoming Board member to the Boosters, I had a personal connection to cancer and grief at a young age. When I was eleven years old, I lost my mother to cancer.” Shares Jennifer Jackson, Vice President of the Lowell Athletic Booster Club, and parent of a student athlete.

Jennifer reached out to Gilda’s Club to start back up the meal program and 22 teams provided and served 15 meals over the 2022-2023 school year. Not only did the students learn about Gilda’s Club and connect with community members going through their cancer or grief journey, but they were also responsible for leading the planning of everything from making the menu to setting the budget to grocery shopping to preparing and serving the meal.

“I wanted our student athletes to have a connection to Gilda’s Club because a support program like Gilda’s was not available to me during a time that I could have really benefited from it. Our student athletes must balance homework, practices, games, and stay mentally and physically strong. Many students are also multi-sport athletes. Throw a sudden diagnosis or unexpected loss into the equation, having Gilda’s support groups as a resource is something that we are so fortunate to have in our community”.

Lindsay Jousma, Director of Program Operations & Relations for Gilda’s Club shares “We greatly value and appreciate the ongoing support of the Lowell Athletic Boosters and Lowell Community! The dedication of providing Supper Together at Gilda’s Club Lowell has made it possible for our members impacted by cancer or grief due to any cause of death to have opportunities to meet together over a delicious, free, meal at Gilda’s Club Lowell. Thank you to the Lowell Athletic Boosters for making Supper Together possible for Gilda’s Club Lowell!”

Plans are already in the works to provide meals for the 2023 -2024 school year. If you want to learn more about the Lowell Athletic Boosters or looking for ways to get involved, visit the Lowell Boosters website.