Causes: Cancer

Mission: To provide inspiration to cancer patients and their families through hope libraries, gifts of hope, youth outreach programs, such as what about us sessions and cancer really sucks website and workshops.

Programs: Gems of hope is a support organization with a mission of bringing hope to cancer patients and their families in cedar rapids, iowa. Handmade cards with inspirational quotes and scripture hold single pairs of beaded earrings or a beaded bookmark. Local cancer survivors, their friends and families make the beaded earrings/bookmarks and the message cards. These cards are placed in baskets in the oncology areas of the local hospitals and at oncology offices. Each patient is encouraged to look through the basket, read the cards and take home their choice of card and earrings/bookmark at no charge. For the non-earring wearing patient, a serentity circle with inscribed inspirational words, such as "hope", "faith"' and "strength" attached to a handmade card are given. The intent is for the patient to place the card in a favorite spot in their home for their inspiration throughout the weeks and months of treatment. The bookmark/earrings or serentity circle allows the patient to wear or carry this gift on their person as a constant reminder of encouragement. Gems of hope serves the community in five major areas: 1)art/therapy volunteerism2)gifts of hope3)hope library/pages for hope program4)what about us? -sessions with children ages 5-12 years old. 5)cancer really sucks-website for teens