Programs

Gilda’s Club Desert Cities provides professional programs of emotional and social support, education, and fitness for people who are affected by cancer. Men, women, children…..any age, any stage, any cancer….. patients, caregivers, family, loved ones, those managing chronic cancers, survivors (however you define it), the bereaved….if cancer is affecting your life in some way, you will most likely find a program here that will help you make the best of it.

There is no need to face cancer alone.

We offer:
Weekly Support Groups (9 different groups)
Monthly Networking Groups (3 different groups)
Children’s Programs (NoogieNights, Teen Essay Contest, etc.)
Healthy Lifestyle classes (Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditations, etc.)
Expressive Arts classes (Creative writing, art, theater, etc.)
Education lectures and workshops (Doctor lectures, Nutrition classes, etc.)
Social Connections (Potlucks, Socials, Entertainment, and Fun!)
Volunteer opportunities

Be sure to check our monthly calendar to keep up with all the options!

MEMBERSHIP
Membership and all programs at Gilda’s Club are free of charge. Membership simply means that:

You, or your loved one, is affected by cancer
You have attended an Orientation that includes an overview of the program and a tour of the clubhouse (45 to 60 minutes)
You have completed a Customized Membership Plan (CMP) with a qualified professional. This is your time to privately discuss the most specific and applicable services for you, and to determine the best support group and/or other Gilda’s Club activities for you. You will also be able to explore other resources that may be helpful to you. A CMP usually takes around 30 minutes.

You need to attend a New Member Meeting in order to participate in our support groups and classes

(although many of our lectures are “open to the public”). New member meeting are scheduled:

Every Wednesday at 1:15pm
Every Thursday at 6:00pm

However, if these standard times for Orientation are not possible for you, we will find a time that is!

WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUPS
Gilda’s Club Cancer Support Groups are facilitated by licensed contract professionals (LMFTs, LCSWs, etc.) who have received further specialized training in the emotional stresses that occur when an individual is diagnosed with cancer.

It is important to remember that the people around the “patient”….spouses, relatives, children, friends, are also impacted, and these caregivers and loved ones need support too, as well as help feeling secure that they are doing a good job supporting and assisting the patient.

Our support groups provide a safe environment to explore deeper individual and shared thoughts, feelings and experiences related to the impact of cancer. Groups are either 1 ½ or 2 hours long and there are generally around 6 to 12 members in a group. Patients, caregivers and children have specific groups so that each can be with others who most truly understand their experiences.

During the New Member Meeting, you and a staff member will discuss which group will be best suited to your needs and a date will be set for you to begin.

Newly Diagnosed Support Group
For people recently diagnosed with cancer for the first time
Held every Wednesday from 9:30am-11:30am
Facilitator is Deborah Meints, LMFT

Living with Cancer Support Group
For people who are 1 year (approx.) post treatment, in remission, or are living with a chronic cancer
Held every Wednesday, from 9:30am-11:30am
Facilitator is Gail Bardin, LMFT

Friends & Family (Caregivers) Support Group
For loved ones of the person with cancer
Held every Wednesday from 9:30am-11:30am
Facilitator is Bonnie Lipton, LMFT

Living with Loss Support Group
For people who have lost a loved one to cancer within the past year
Held every Wednesdays, from 1:15pm-2:45pm
Facilitator Deborah Meints, LMFT

People with Cancer (Newly Diagnosed and Longer Term)
For people with cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship
Held everyThursdays, from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Facilitator is Robert Koyle, LMFT

Friends & Family (Caregivers) Support Group
For loved ones of the person with cancer
Held everyThursdays, from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Facilitator is Litsa Mitchell, LMFT

NoogieNights (Children’s Group)
For children ages 5 – 13 who have a parent or close relative with cancer
Held everyThursdays, from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Facilitator is Vicky Pulido, LCSW

MONTHLY NETWORKING GROUPS
Networking groups meet on a monthly basis (as opposed to weekly like the other groups). They have social and educational components and provide time to connect with others who share similar interests and experience related to living with cancer. Networking groups may be facilitated by a licensed professional or specially trained volunteer.

Spirituality Networking
Members explore and communicate their perspectives through discussion, personal journey and life experience. Uplifting and spiritual, as defined by the individual.
Held the second Saturday of the month, from 10am-12pm
Facilitator is Robert Rockwell, MA

Women’s Networking
For women interested in female-specific topics, whether as a cancer survivor or caregiver.
Held the second Saturday of the month, from 12:00pm-2:00pm
Facilitator is Gail Bardin, LMFT

Men’s Networking
For men interested in male-specific topics, whether as a cancer survivor or caregiver.
Held the second Saturday of the month, from 12:00pm-2:00pm
Facilitator is Tim Neuman, Peer Group Leader

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CLASSES
Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation and other related programs provide a space for cancer patients and caregivers to maintain and build strength, reduce tension, improve physical and emotional balance and feel refreshed.

Expressive arts (for example painting, photography, theater, writing) provide a creative outlet and welcome respite from treatment, caregiving, and daily stress. Many members find that learning a new skill or producing something of beauty is an unexpected benefit of their cancer journey.

Ongoing Healthy Lifestyle classes are:

(Be sure to confirm, as unforeseen scheduling changes can occur, classes added or removed, and some classes close for the summer)

Tai Chi – Intermediate and Advanced
Tuesdays, 8:30am to 9:30am
Instructor: Neal Arida

Tai Chi – Beginners
Tuesdays, 9:30am to 10:30am
Instructor: Neal Arida

Yoga – Mat and Chair
Tuesdays, 3pm to 4pm
Instructor: Marnell Farley

Water Color Painting
Mondays, 3pm to 4pm
Instructor: Shannon Hogan

The Big C….for Creativity
Creative Writing Class
Tuesdays 11am to 12:30pm
Instructor: Ted Luciani

Knitting
Thursdays, 9:30 to 11:30
Bring your own supplies
Instructor: Sue Sheppard

Crafting with Friends
Returns in the Fall
Instructor: MJ Bradley

Meditation
Gone Fishin’ in Baja
Instructor: Frani Richards

Beginning Spanish
On Summer Break
Instructor: Patty Neil

EDUCATION LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS
Education increases one sense of control and confidence in decision making. Gilda’s Club educational programs address not only cancer related topics, but also everyday life related topics – because everyday life doesn’t let up, and often gets more complicated, when cancer is involved. Please see the Calendar for this month’s classes.

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
Fun isn’t just fun, it’s important! Research has proven what we all knew anyway, that parties, potlucks, and Jokefests are good for your health and can even reduce pain! Please see the Calendar for this month’s classes.

VOLUNTEERING
Gilda’s Club is fueled with a locomotive’s strength of volunteers, and most of those volunteers are people who have had cancer themselves and want to give back. In fact, volunteering is so good for the giver, that it is often considered a “program” in itself. After treatment, when people are feeling stronger, they often want to stay involved and help others. And we have lots of fun and exciting ways to help you do this! Please check out the Volunteer section.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
NoogieNights on Thursday evenings takes place in Noogieland, a fun place with murals, toys, art supplies, games and space to relax. Children (ages 5-12) whose parents are in support groups attend Noogieland where cancer doesn’t need to be a secret and all questions are okay. When children know that other families are having similar experiences, it reduces stigma and provides a safe place to discuss cancer, so that as one young member put it, “It feels more relaxed at home now because we know we can talk about it at Gilda’s.”

The “It’s Always Something” Teen Essay Contest provides a way for teens, who often hesitate to attend more conventional support programs, to express their emotions, concerns, fears, and hopes about how they are touched by cancer. Gilda’s Club works with Coachella Valley high schools to engage students in writing their essays, and local civic leaders act as judges to select the top three winners. All entrants receive a certificate of participation and the First, Second and Third place winners receive significant monetary prizes. There is also an Awards Ceremony that celebrates all the teens who enter the contest and their families. This is a wonderful community event.