Program Calendars and Activities

Gilda’s Club Delaware Valley Calendars of Events and Activities

Click on the following Calendar links:

Satellite Calendars

Thanks to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for Sponsoring our Blood Cancer Networking Group!

Are you a veteran? Learn about our veteran programming for vets and their families by clicking here!

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The Gilda’s Club Basic III ‘Plus’ program is composed of Support and Networking Groups; Lectures and Workshops; and Social Activities, supplemented by Family Focus ™, Team Convene ™, ph&d, and Noogieland ™, the program for children. As a foundation for members’ customized programs, the Basic III ‘Plus’ has the potential to create a system of social and emotional support that may impact the entire experience of cancer. BECOME A MEMBER:Membership at Gilda’s Club is completely free of charge and open to all people living with cancer as well as to their families and friends.
BECOME A MEMBER

The Basic III
Support and Networking Groups
Our Clubhouse offers Weekly Wellness Groups for those living with cancer and Family Groups for family members and friends, and monthly Networking Groups focused on a particular kind of cancer or topic of common interest (prostate cancer, young adults with cancer, living solo with cancer, etc.)		 PROGRAM ACTIVITY CALENDARS:
Adult Calendar
Noogieland Calendar
Lectures and Workshops
Each month our selection of lectures and workshops changes. Typical lecture topics, which are selected based on members’ interests, include stress reduction nutrition, talking to your children about cancer, latest treatments, and managing pain. Major workshop areas include art and other forms of self-expression, meditation, exercise and yoga, and cooking.
Social Activities
These are among the most popular offerings at Gilda’s Clubs and vary from potluck suppers with music to karaoke nights to joke fests or comedy nights to major celebrations around special holidays. Having members and families come together for fun creates special bonds that enhance other individual and group experiences.

The ‘Plus’
Team Convene™
These sessions, facilitated by a staff member, are used to create an active support network at the time of diagnosis or for any challenging situations that may follow (e.g., a hospital stay or home recuperation). Sessions include all significant friends and family in a member’s life, who join together to provide support for transportation, food preparation, childcare, etc.
Family Focus™
The Family Focus meeting, including anyone a member defines as family, is facilitated by a staff member. The purpose of the session is to enlist the entire family as a resource and help them learn together how to live with cancer. It seeks to identify and discuss family beliefs about cancer, critical
family issues, and immediate practical problems as well as solutions.
Noogieland™
In a special area of our clubhouse, activities are conducted for children impacted by cancer, whether directly or by having a family member or friend with cancer. We also have a variety of activities for teens, who frequently choose to volunteer at the clubhouse as well.

ph&d

ph&d addresses the often-neglected social and emotional needs of cancer survivors and their families and friends, through a well-defined program of education and support activities. Specifically, it assists cancer survivors in achieving Perspective, in giving back or Helping Hands, and in providing opportunities for Discovery of deeper meaning about their life post-treatment. ph&d also provides a unique approach to emotional and social support for those whose loved ones have died of cancer.

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We believe that when cancer happens, it happens to the entire family.  Noogieland offers social and emotional support to each family member.  Our members are:

  • a child/teen of someone who has cancer
  • a sibling of someone who has cancer
  • a cousin, niece, nephew, grandchild, neighbor or friend of someone with cancer
  • a child/teen with cancer
  • a child/teen who has lost someone to cancer

Noogieland is a separate building adjacent to the club house that offers a supportive environment.  Noogieland is named after the noogies Bill Murray gave to Gilda Radnor on Saturday Night Live.   It is filled with toys, books, games, and art supplies.  The programs are organized by the Noogieland Coordinator and trained volunteers.

In Noogieland, children & teens find healthy ways to express their feelings.  They get to laugh and play with other children/teens who can relate to what they are experiencing.  They support each other with their “expertise” about living with cancer.  We offer weekly, monthly and annual special events that provide our young members with inspiration and hope.  We also have a room designated just for teens.  Most of our teen groups are held in this room.

Our programs include (see the calendar for scheduling and more information):

  • Kid Support – a 10 week peer support group for kids 4-11 who have cancer in their lives.
  • Teen Support – a peer support group for teens 12-18 who have cancer in their lives.
  • Parent Networking – a group for the parents of Kid Support and Teen Support Members.  It runs simultaneously with these groups.
  • Kids Living with Loss – a group for kids 4-11 who have lost someone to cancer.
  • Teens Living with Loss – a group for teens 12-18 who have lost someone to cancer.
  • Noogie Nights -Fun, open play nights for children & teens whose parents are attending a club house event.
  • Toddler Time – a group for toddlers to play, sing songs, explore music and do arts and crafts.
  • Kids in the Kitchen/Teens in the Kitchen – Our members get the opportunity to follow a recipe and create a snack in our kitchen (yours stays clean!).
  • Noogie Fest – our annual Halloween party for children, teens, family and friends.  We have a blast every year!  Lots of games, yucky stuff to touch and tons of food.  Check the October calendar for scheduling.
  • Gilda’s Railway – Outside, behind our playground, Gilda’s Castle, we have an outdoor railway.  Members of the Bristol Railroad Society take care of the tracks and run our Bachmann trains (donated by Bachmann Trains) on our Bachmann Train Garden.  The trains are run on most special events and in the summer.  See calendar for schedule or call the clubhouse.
  • Saturday Specials – We have some special events that take place on Saturdays.  Each one has a different theme.  See calendar for schedule and details.

Noogieland is especially designed to be available while parents attend clubhouse programs.  We require at least 24 hours advance notification if you wish to bring your child into Noogieland.  If you wish to sign your child/teen up for a Noogieland program, please do so at least 24 hours in advance.

Please see the current Noogieland Program Calendar for this month’s activities.

Our music activities have been supported by a grant from the Michael Manzella Foundation.

Glossary of Terms Here is a Glossary of Terms to help you understand some of the words you hear about cancer.