Community Spotlight | Living Journeys
In our 2023 summer and fall Bluebird Days Magazine, we highlighted Living Journeys, a local non-profit organization, through our Community Spotlight. Living Journeys was chosen as our feature organization because of the immense work they do to provide financial assistance, emotional support, and enrichment programs for Gunnison Valley residents affected by cancer. Read the full Community Spotlight on Living Journeys below and learn more about their critical efforts.
Community Spotlight | Living Journeys
Living Journeys provides financial assistance, emotional support, and enrichment programs to Gunnison Valley residents affected by cancer. What began over 20 years ago as a grassroots organization with just seven grants, a small support group and only $29,000 in funding has become a beacon of hope within our community. Living Journeys now serves over 100 clients with financial grants and support through other programs, totaling over $266,000 in client support in 2022.
“Living journeys has changed the course of our lives in the last couple of months, as I wasn’t sure if we would have to sell our house or if we would even have a vehicle worthy enough to take our son to appointments in Denver. Living Journeys changed that and got us through it; they have given us a priceless relief so we can focus on our son. Thank you is not enough.” — Living Journeys Client
Living Journeys is a vital lifeline for community members when they are fighting cancer. Their programs focus on reducing stress and meeting the needs of the family because cancer doesn’t look the same for everyone. Financial grants from Living Journeys help relieve the economic burden of a cancer diagnosis for Gunnison County residents. Living Journeys also offers emotional support for patients, caregivers, and the bereaved through professionally facilitated support groups and private therapy grants.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Living Journeys started a new food program for clients and their families by working with local chefs, restaurants, and farmers’ markets to provide home delivery boxes of produce and healthy meals. Since then, the nutritional support program has continued to expand, with over 3,000 meals and boxes of fresh produce delivered in 2022.
Living Journeys also recognizes that due to our rural location and proximity to specialized forms of cancer treatments, Gunnison County residents may have trouble traveling to and from their cancer treatments. They offer multiple types of transportation assistance, including volunteer drivers, transportation grants, loaner vehicles, lodging assistance, and other travel resources.
87 cents of every dollar fundraised at Living Journeys goes directly to support people affected by cancer. The need is always greater than what is possible; however, Living Journeys strives to reach 100% of Gunnison County residents diagnosed with cancer. Thanks to support from our community, they are able to serve more people than ever before.
Bluebird Real Estate has been a proud supporter of Living Journeys since the brokerage’s inception and hopes to help fulfill their vision that no one in Gunnison County fights cancer alone. To learn more about how to support this vital community resource, visit livingjourneys.org
View Bluebird Days Volume 11 here.
