CIRCLES OF HOPE

Community Outreach Programs

...when you need to know there are friends who care...

Our Penny Bear Circles of Hope community programs provide separate gatherings ("circles") for people whose lives have been affected by cancer, Parkinson's disease, and caregiving responsibilities, or who are experiencing a life transition during a time of bereavement.

Quoting Marblehead Reporter newspaper journalist Kaitlin Melanson:

Our programs are organized by volunteers and are free of charge. We provide a variety of informal gatherings that include guest speakers, workshops and support groups. Click Here

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Cancer Support:

Marblehead resident Caroline Ross was no stranger to the effects of recurring illness. When interviewed for a news story about the cancer Circle of Hope gatherings, Caroline shared that "one of the best things about it is that it is open to all types of cancers" (she was living with her third type), and that it was, for her, "an uplifting, learning, strengthening experience." Sadly for all of us, our Caroline has passed, but her joyful spirit remains with us, as do her words from the newspaper article:

"It really is, in fact, a circle of healing where the help continually comes around full circle. It's the type of situation where one day you lean on me, and the next day I lean on you."

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Parkinson's Disease Support:

Another of our Circles of Hope programs provides gathering space for friends living with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers.

Most of our friends had not participated in group support before, and it has been an honor to be gifted with their trust. We, in turn, have brought to them guests from both traditional and complementary medical fields (including Reiki and acupuncture), as well as a nutritionist and a physical therapist who specializes in mobility issues. We have shared laughter, frustrations and coping skills, poetry, and an inspired array of "self-help" ideas they have created themselves! The conversations and observations exchanged among them regarding living skills is an education not only for them, but for us, too.

We invited the caregivers to an evening out just for themselves, where we were joined by a wonderful social worker who specializes in caregiver support. We all learned the importance of creating time for self-care, and the need to recognize isolation and its affect on everyone's spirit…those receiving and those giving the care.

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Caregiver Support:

Anyone who has been a caregiver recognizes how the roller-coaster emotions of kindness, isolation, pride, frustration, acceptance, sadness, compassion, anger, love and even guilt, change family life dynamics. We offer a twice-monthly "caring-for-the-caregivers" group facilitated by a licensed caregiver support consultant and a Penny Bear volunteer. These gatherings provide much-needed time for sharing coping skills, resource and medical information, and time to rediscover perspective about taking care of their own physical and emotional needs.

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Bereavement Support:

There is a wise old saying: "Every death takes a thousand tellings." Every story is unique, and the journey though grief holds similar paths…but all of us need to find our own way. We offer a warm, private, home setting for evening support gatherings that are facilitated by a licensed, certified counselor and a bereavement-trained Penny Bear volunteer. The groups meet for six weeks and are free of charge. We have provided support for widows, as well as for people who have lost siblings and friends, and offer encouragement with the difficult challenge of coping with the grief process during the holidays. We are honored to provide these gatherings as frequently as we are made aware of the need.

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