With a cancer diagnosis, one of the first things one might need is emotional support, access to education and, most importantly, hope. The last thing one needs is to think about where to get those and how to pay for them. That’s where The Wellness Community comes in.
The Wellness Community-Delaware provides emotional support to people whose lives have been affected by cancer. Whether they have learned of a personal diagnosis or that of a family member or close friend, the center exists to provide them with emotional support, education and hope. For free.
Recently, The Wellness Community-Delaware celebrated its one-year anniversary in its current location in the Medical Arts Building adjacent to the Tunnel Cancer Center at the Beebe Health Campus on Route 24.
“We wanted to have the open house to thank others for their support, and reconnect with people,” said Jo Wilkins, Sussex County director.
Previously, they had a building off of Route 1 that was a “good spot,” according to Wilkins, but a little hard for people to find. They were also limited in the programs that they could offer people at that site.
“Now we have a kitchen, so we instead of just talking about good nutrition, we can offer classes!” she shared excitedly.
“Chefs volunteer,” added Kaye Webb, outreach coordinator for the Wellness-Center Delaware, “and the dietician from Beebe comes, too. It’s so people can learn about a variety of things and to encourage them to change their lifestyle.”
Besides the kitchen, the new space allows them to provide two support rooms, and a mind/body room, where they provide classes such as yoga and qi gong. They offer drawing classes, writing therapy workshops, stress-reduction classes and a special Kids Circle/Teen Talk to help children who have a parent, grandparent or sibling with cancer.
“We also have a support group and yoga classes for people further downstate in Ocean View,” said Webb. The local support group meets Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mariner’s Bethel Church, and yoga is Mondays mornings at 8:30 a.m. at the Bethany Beach Yoga Center in Ocean View.
According to their Web site, The Wellness Community-National was founded in 1984. The Wellness Community-Delaware is a fairly young organization that was started as a grass-roots movement by people who had been personally affected by cancer, as well as the knowledge of Delaware’s high cancer mortality rate. They have been open in Rehoboth Beach since 2004, Dover since 2002 and Wilmington since 1996.
Staff-wise, they are still a fairly small organization, but provide what many consider invaluable support to people with cancer, as well as to their families and friends.
“We have two people on staff in Sussex,” said Wilkins, “one in Kent County and just a few in New Castle County. And all of the money raised in Sussex County stays in Sussex County. We survive on donations, and the local community is great. Just today, the food was donated from Edible Art Foods, Good for You Natural Market, Chef Deborah and Bella’s Cookies.
To keep their programs free for participants, in addition to donations, they get money from foundations and fundraising.
“We have a golf tournament in June at King’s Creek and the Red Balloon Party in October. We are having our next fundraiser at Irish Eyes. The community businesses are really stepping up to the plate,” Wilkins noted.
She said that people often mention the Wellness Community and say that it is a funny name for a place that helps people with cancer, but she stressed that the most important word in that is “community.”
“We work really hard to create that community. When people are diagnosed with cancer, they need to feel at home,” she said. “somewhere where it doesn’t matter if you don’t have hair, or you have scars. Everyone here has been affected by cancer personally, or has a loved one that has, so they really know what you are going through.”
“We have over 300 participants each month,” continued Wilkins. “We provide emotional support to people touched by cancer and that can include family members, friends, co-workers.
“Just think if you heard a co-worker was diagnosed with cancer, and how that would change your world. Unless you have been touched by cancer, you don’t really think about it,” she said.
“And all of the programs we offer are free,” Wilkins emphasized. “We strongly feel that people should not have to pay for it. Because the last thing you want to think about after hearing that you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer is how you are going to pay for the support services you need.”
For more information on programs and services, or to donate, visit the Web site at: www.wellnessdelaware.org or call (302) 645-9150.