By Kimberly Paulk, SHARECharlotte.com, a free, easy and local website that makes it easy to learn about and engage with our local nonprofits.
What do Play-Doh and Hospice have in common? Not much, at first glance. But as I paged through the Give Shop this week I saw that Hospice uses Play-Doh to help entertain children who come to visit loved ones staying at in-patient facilities.
That stopped me short. I love the mission of Hospice. They do the work of the angels, in my opinion. Now I’d found a way that I could give back in a way that worked for my schedule, and my heart. Click. Play-Doh shipped.
This experience sent me on a deeper dive into the services of Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, which I quickly realized I had both misunderstood and under-appreciated. Most surprising to me was the discovery of Chameleon’s Journey grief camp for kids. This annual overnight camp, held at Camp Thunderbird in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, has served over a thousand campers, ages 7 – 16 since its inception almost 15 years ago.
The camp revolves around activities that provide opportunities to express grief and other emotions through music, drama, writing, and visual art. There’s also plenty of physical activity. One of the overarching goals is to let kids know they are not alone in their grief, and the camp is provided free of charge to participants.
If you’d like to know more about Chameleon’s Journey or Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, check out their SHARE profile here. To get involved or support their work, check out the opportunities below.
Notary Volunteer – Offer notary services to patients and families. Services include completing living wills and healthcare power of attorney documents.
“Your Special Skill” Volunteer – Musicians, photographers, clowns, financial advisors – your skills can help patients and families in a unique way.
Wish List – Shop their Wish List, where you’ll find they need everything from Crayola Crayons to printer paper.
