A decade of hope: ‘Gems’ program in Cedar Rapids celebrating success

CEDAR RAPIDS — Gems of Hope proves how a simple idea can be a vital facet in a complex realm.

'Our mission is very simple: to bring hope to cancer patients and their families,' said Cindy Sale, 59, of Cedar Rapids.

She's a co-founder of the non-profit organization celebrating its 10th anniversary with a 'Giggles and Grins' party Saturday night at the Scottish Rite Temple. The event begins with a social hour at 6 p.m., followed by comedy from the Good Laugh Gives Back troop and headliner Doug Thompson, followed by music from Alisabeth Von Presley and Gerard Estella.

Admission is $20, but the party is a friend-raiser, not a fundraiser.

'We're really hoping that because of the type of event it is, to get some people who maybe don't know Gems as well, so we can expose them to our mission,' said Gems Executive Director Norah Hammond, 42, of Cedar Rapids.

She said the laughter portion of the event reflects the spirit of co-founder Sheila Harman, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2008.

'This is a tough time of year for some people, and some people who have been touched by Gems (are) no longer with us,' Hammond said. 'Families may be thinking about their lost loved ones at the holidays. Sheila was an advocate of laughter being the best medicine.

'When you go through all of this stuff that's related to cancer, those (lighter) things are important, too. So we thought, let's just give people something to smile about and take their mind off their problems.'

That sentiment reflects the Gems mission, as well.

MISSION

Founded in July 2005, Gems of Hope began with a simple idea of providing simple inspirational cards to cancer patients during their treatments in Cedar Rapids. Harman and her friend Beth Hammell, both of Cedar Rapids, were diagnosed with breast cancer a month apart in 2004. Hammell was 'one of the luckier ones' who didn't need chemo, but accompanied Harman to treatments.

'We'd see people coming and going, without any kind of support,' Hammell, now 62, said. 'Both Sheila and I had a huge amount of support. I think people now realize that it isn't just the medicine — it's the back-support you have that does the healing.'

So they combined their interests and enlisted their friend Sale, who had been a caregiver for her brother during his stem-cell transplant treatment.

Ten years later, the mission remains the same, but the results have been anything but simple. Mercy and St. Luke's officials jumped onboard right away, offering office space and funding so volunteers could make about 125 cards a month.

The organization is now headquartered in a bright suite at 420 Sixth St. SE, with storage space in the basement. Several other non-profits are housed in the Mercy multiuse building. Rent is 1 a year. 'We pay in cash,' Sale said with a smile.

Gems of Hope operates with a $120,000 budget and has two paid staff members: a full-time executive director and a part-time volunteer coordinator. All the other workers are volunteers.

GIFTS

Each card takes about 5 1/2 hours to process, from creating to packaging and distributing, Hammond said. 'Last year, we logged 30,000 volunteer hours, and that number is on the rise,' she said, with efforts to supply Iowa City treatment centers. 'It's an incredible amount of volunteerism.'

These bright, handmade cards are made during workshops at six sites in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Each card features an inspirational saying and are adorned with beaded earrings, serenity circles or stones that can be held and rubbed like worry stones. Another card with beading can be used as a bookmark. Sale said each serenity circle is inscribed with a word like 'strength,' 'courage' or 'hope,' and she's heard that some women put them on a chain to wear as a necklace, while men tend to put them in a pocket or on a keychain.

The gifts are placed in baskets in cancer treatment centers, and are free of charge. People who would like to take more than one or send the cards to others can buy them for $10 at the sites, in hospital gift shops, area retailers and $13 online at Gemsofhope.com/retail-locations

OTHER PROGRAMS

In addition to the cards, Gems of Hope offers 'Cancer Really Sucks,' a website by and for teenagers who have family and friends affected by cancer; 'Pages for Hope,' which places books and resource materials about cancer in area schools, to reach students and families; and 'What About us?' activity sessions to help children ages 5 to 12 understand and cope with cancer in their families.

The organization's major fundraiser is Hope Blooms, created in 2014 after the American Cancer Society stopped its daffodil sales.

Last year alone, the Gems program delivered more than 400 daffodil bouquets to area cancer patients; more than 300 Lion Hugs gifts to children being treated at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City; and nearly 2,500 daffodil bunches throughout the communities. For 2016, orders will be taken Jan. 5 to Feb. 4 at participating businesses, and the flowers will be delivered March. 9. To bring the program to your business, call (319) 393-9681.

REWARDS

Co-founders Sale and Hammell said the rewards from their Gems project have been 'tenfold' over the past decade.

'When we do have someone stop by the office or send a note or at an event, start crying because the card meant so much, you realize it doesn't take much to make a difference in someone's life,' Sale said. 'It's very rewarding.'

The word is spreading. A friend of Sale's who is a breast cancer survivor, has started a Gems of Hope branch in southeast Wisconsin. Cedar Rapids volunteer Kristin Glockhoff, 64, buys Gems cards and sends them to patients she knows around the country, and has even made and distributed cards during her European business travels for Rockwell-Collins.

Brian Stutzman, 42, of Palo, executive director of Young Parents Network, offered his advice to Gems in its organizing phase, and now serves on the board of directors.

'I just believe it's one of the most worthy missions that an organization can have,' he said. 'Everybody is affected in some way by cancer, and the whole mission of trying to bring hope and perseverance to families and kids — especially the kids — is just something that resonated with me.'

Jayme Williams, 37, of Alburnett, manager of radiation oncology at St. Luke's, sees great value in the Gems gifts.

'To have that little gem is like having a little support team of angels — people you don't know who are supporting you through your illness.'

IF YOU GO

• What: Giggles and Grins for Gems
• When: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Scottish Rite Temple, 616 A Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids
• Cost: $20, (319) 393-9681 or

  Shop.gemsofhope.com

• Features: Social hour, 6 p.m.; entertainment, 7 p.m., with comedy by Good Laughs Gives Back and Doug Thompson, then music by Alisabeth Von Presley and Gerard Estella