Gilda's on the Go

THERMAL, MECCA & DESERT HOT SPRINGS

Gilda’s on the Go is our way of taking the Gilda’s Club programs to areas of our community that may be economically disadvantaged or where lack of transportation may hinder participation at our Cathedral City site. Look for our distinctive Gilda’s on the Go van (picture) that gets us to locations that have high needs for cancer-related services yet limited transportation and other services.

Gilda’s Club Dessert Cities has a very active program in the East Valley (of Coachella Valley) with programs held in Thermal and Mecca.  Every Wednesday from 9am to 1pm, members participate in one or all of the following:

• Yoga or Meditation Class
• Support Group for people living with cancer, both patients and caregivers, led by a mental health professional
• A lecture or workshop presented by a professional in a related field (recent topics have included: Cancer and Sexuality; How to Manage Stress and Recognize Depression; Understanding Leukemia and Lymphoma)
• A craft project like knitting or sewing, and often the items that are created are donated to local families in need
• A social gathering that ranges from an informal shared lunch to a holiday potluck to a large party with entertainment
  

The Thermal and Mecca programs are conducted primarily in Spanish and are facilitated by a bilingual, bi-cultural mental health professional as well as a Yoga Instructor, various presenters who are professionals in their fields (doctors, therapists, etc.), and many local volunteers who take pride in their communities and in ensuring that Gilda’s Club programs are available to all of their neighbors, friends and families.

The Thermal program is held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at:

Jerry Rummonds Memorial Senior and Community Center

87-229 Church Street, Thermal, CA 92274

The Mecca program is held on the first and third Wednesday of each month at:

Mecca Family Resources Center

91-275 66th Ave., Ste. 100, Mecca, CA 92254

For more information about the programs in Thermal or Mecca or to get involved, please call Graciela Cortes, MFTI, Outreach Program Manager at (760) 250-5942

A brief orientation and interview is required before beginning a support group.

Gilda's Club Desert Cities also offers a cancer support group in the City of Desert Hot Springs.  The group is led by a bi-lingual facilitator, and it meets at the DHS Senior and Community Center on Friday afternoons.

The DHS group is currently on summer vacation.  Watch for information about its return in the fall!  If you have any questions in the meantime, just give our Cathedral City office a call at (760) 770-5678.