Fairy Godmother Project

THE MISSION OF THE FAIRY GODMOTHER PROJECT IS TO EASE THE BURDEN OF DAY TO DAY LIFE FOR FAMILIES FACING ALL PHASES OF A PEDIATRIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS.

FAMILY SERVICES AND FINANCIAL RELIEF PROGRAM: THE FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM SERVES FAMILIES FACING PEDIATRIC CANCER. DUE TO THE LACK OF A LOCAL TREATMENT FACILITY, THE FAMILIES HAVE ADDED STRESS AND COST FROM DRIVING TO DC OR RICHMOND, MISSED WORK, AND EXTENDED PERIODS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES. AFTER SURVEYING NUMEROUS FAMILIES, FGP DETERMINED THAT PARENTS FELT ISOLATED AND ALONE, WERE IN NEED OF SUPPORT WITH DAY-TO-DAY TASKS DUE TO THE STRESS AND TIME AWAY FROM HOME AND THAT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE FAMILY WAS GREAT. AS A RESULT, FGP PROVIDES SERVICES TO LESSEN THE STRESS ON THE PARENTS AND HELP GIVE THEM TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THE SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE FINANCIAL RELIEF THROUGH BILL PAYMENT WHICH IS PROVIDED 2 TIMES PER YEAR FOR A MAXIMUM OF $1000 (ALL BILLS PAID DIRECTLY TO THE BILLER), MONTHLY MEALS PREPARED BY VOLUNTEERS, HOUSE CLEANING, LAWN CARE, GROCERY, AND GAS CARDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAMILIES HAVE THE OPTION FOR HOUSE PROJECTS AND SUPPORT FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE OTHER NEEDED SERVICES INCLUDING THERAPY, MENTORING DOG BOARDING, AND HOUSE ORGANIZING. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES AAA MEMBERSHIPS TO ASSIST WITH TRAVEL COMPLICATIONS AND A CRISIS FUND TO HELP WHEN THERE ARE UNEXPECTED SURGERIES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND OTHER UNEXPECTED MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. WHILE THESE MAY SEEM SMALL, THE FAMILIES REPORT A DECREASE IN STRESS AND A FEELING OF RELIEF KNOWING THE SUPPORT OF FGP IS IN PLACE. THE SERVICES ARE TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF EACH FAMILY AND ALLOW FOR CHANGES AS THEIR NEEDS CHANGE. HE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED MEALS PREPARED BY VOLUNTEERS AND HOUSE CLEANINGS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION COORDINATED THE DISTRIBUTION OF ROUGHLY $12,000 IN GOODS FROM A RESTAURANT. GAS AND GIFT CARDS WERE ALSO PURCHASED AND DONATED FOR FAMILIES TO RELIEVE STRESS FROM TRAVELING TO TREATMENT.

HOPELINK PROGRAM: FAIRY GODMOTHER PROJECT RECOGNIZES THE MANY LOSSES SURROUNDING A CHILDHOOD CANCER DIAGNOSIS. WITH OUR NEW PROGRAM, HOPELINK, WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE AND HOPE TO FAMILIES BY LINKING OR CONNECTING THEM WITH OTHERS LIKE THEM. WE OFFER MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUPS FOR REMISSION/SURVIVOR FAMILIES AND BEREAVED FAMILIES. IN ADDITION, WE MATCH PARENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR CANCER EXPERIENCE TO PARENTS FURTHER ALONG IN ORDER TO PROVIDE HOPE, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES TO THEM FROM SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS.

STARGAZERS PROGRAM: THE STARGAZERS PROGRAM SUPPORTS FAMILIES AT THE END OF A CHILD'S LIFE AND BEYOND. ONCE A CHILD IS PLACED IN HOSPICE, ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ARE PROVIDED. FGP WORKS WITH HOSPICE TO BETTER MEET THE FAMILY'S NEEDS, PROVIDES RESOURCES, ASSISTS WITH FUNERAL PLANNING AND EXPENSES, ASSISTS WITH WRITING OBITUARIES, AND PROVIDES VOLUNTEERS FOR FUNERAL RECEPTIONS. ONCE A CHILD HAS PASSED, PARENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BOOKS ON GRIEF, AN INFORMAL SUPPORT GROUP, AN ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP, CARDS FROM FGP ON IMPORTANT DAYS, AND FGP HOSTED EVENTS ON IMPORTANT DAYS. FGP ALSO HOSTS QUARTERLY EVENTS TO BUILD A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR THE BEREAVED AND AN ANNUAL OVERNIGHT RETREAT THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER AS A GROUP. THESE EXPERIENCES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO WORK THROUGH THEIR GRIEF AND FEEL ACKNOWLEDGED AND NOT ALONE.