Tag: Connect Event

August brings more friendships & fun!

A family poses with a volunteer at the August 2021 Connect Night

August 2021 Connect Night

Imagine the challenge of facing cancer, adjusting to new dietary restrictions, and finding the time and energy to cook for a family. Cancer Care’s August 2021 Connect Night featured Becca with Tarrant Area Food Bank, who taught our clients healthy and easy-to-make meals that the whole family can help cook!

Brianna, our child therapist, talked about how different types of foods can boost moods and calm anxiety. Then, the kids got to carefully slice cucumbers and strawberries to make a delicious cucumber and strawberry vinaigrette salad. Together, the families crafted their southwest pinwheels stuffed with chicken, spinach, and a mouth-watering cream cheese mixture. Yum!

Connect Night events build social connections by enjoying FUN activities together while teaching COPING skills. Each event has a therapeutic component combined with an engaging theme. Through the dedication of Cancer Care’s staff and volunteers, we have also made our Connect Nights more inviting and accessible for our Spanish-speaking families by offering Spanish translation.

In addition to making events more accessible, we have safely hosted every Connect Night in person this year, except for January! Clients were thankful for the commitment our staff, donors, and volunteers made toward creating a safe environment for people of all ages to form bonds within their own families and with others who are also dealing with cancer.

Supporters like you ensure that those impacted by cancer in our community have FREE social, emotional, and educational programming to help them cope with cancer while expanding their support system. Connect Nights are just one of the many ways your donation brings hope and healing.

Donate early or on North Texas Giving Day, and you can become part of a regional campaign that uplifts the mission of Cancer Care Services. Spread the word by posting about your donation and using the hashtag #NTxGivingDay on social media!

Thank you for making sure that no one has to cope with cancer alone. 

View our Events Calendar for upcoming Connect Events!

Inspiring Hope, Love, and Care

The client connection manager hugs one of the CampCARE campers.

CampCARE 2021

An incredibly brave and kind group of campers blessed us at CampCARE this year! Many campers experienced their first time catching a fish, riding a horse, and conquering the challenge course. Every child approached these experiences with enthusiasm and wonder, often surprising themselves with what they were capable of achieving.

New friends danced together, cheered each other on, and formed lasting bonds! And just as valuable as the friendships made were the skills learned during play therapy sessions held by Brianna, our child therapist. Brianna taught the campers ways to cope and share their emotions surrounding the cancer diagnosis of their loved one.

The children, volunteers, and staff brought the spirit of CampCARE to life through endless jokes, laughter, and SUPPORT. The last day of camp was full of bittersweet goodbyes… but there was also JOY because they will see their new friends again at Cancer Care!

Kaleigh and Aiden, two siblings whose mother is going through cancer treatment, made special connections with the other campers- and they learned healthy ways to process and express feelings with their mom. So CampCARE didn’t just change Kaleigh and Aiden’s lives, but their mother’s too. The family forged a new bond of HOPE and LOVE through learning how to cope TOGETHER.

Thank you to YMCA Camp Carter for providing a safe and fun environment for our clients, staff, and volunteers!

AND thank you to our amazing sponsors…

Blair Kay eats a cupcake at CampCare 2021.
CampCARE 2021

Music is the Sound of Laughter and Healing

Nick throws a frisbee to a young girl at the May 2021 Connect Night.

May 2021 Connect Night

Cancer Care Services’ Connect program brings people together so they can give and receive peer support. In addition to the social benefits (which reduce loneliness and isolation), we also incorporate therapeutic activities to build coping skills. Consequently, each Connect program is fun AND healing! So unsurprisingly, May’s Connect Night featured music, laughter – and a bit of a ruckus!

Children at the May 2021 Connect Night pick out their instruments.
May 2021 Connect Night

Nick, a new client who is a young adult, attended by himself and ended up at a table surrounded by five empty chairs. Megan, our Client Connection Manager (and social butterfly), never lets anyone sit alone! But while making her way over to Nick’s table, she realized he wasn’t there.

Instead, Nick had joined the kids in tossing a bright pink frisbee – and their smiles lit up the evening! The kids ran around, giggles filling the air, as Nick brought much-needed sunshine to the event (after a week of rain). Nick even blessed the parents by allowing them to enjoy a quick dinner without their kids.

Music Night inspired connections across all ages. Every client immersed themselves in music as they picked an emotion to add to the songs they sang. They later created their very own thunderstorm with their instruments!

Our volunteers warmly welcomed 32 individuals, including a new Spanish-speaking family! In the spirit of supporting a local business and neighbor, everyone was given a catered boxed meal from Carpenter’s.

“It was fun trying something new, and music night will definitely be back!” said Megan. She can’t wait for our next Connect event, so for information about attending or volunteering at future Connect Nights, please email Megan at Megan@CancerCareServices.org.

View our Event Calendar for upcoming Connect Nights!