As we step into 2025, we’re thrilled to share some exciting updates about our programs and services. Whether you are a family seeking support or one of our dedicated supporters, your involvement makes all of this possible. Read on to learn about new offerings, upcoming events, and the growing impact of Lucy’s Love Bus in the childhood cancer community.

New & Ongoing Services

• Expanding Our Healing Room – Now Offering Art Therapy at Baystate Hospital!
  We’re excited to announce a new Healing Room offering: Art Therapy at Baystate Hospital in Springfield! Creative expression can be a powerful tool for emotional healing, especially for children navigating the challenges of cancer. This addition expands our commitment to holistic support, giving young patients an outlet for self-expression and healing.
• Love Bus Mother/Female Caregiver Support Group – New Meeting Options!
  We know how busy caregivers’ schedules can be, so we’re now alternating meeting times to better accommodate different needs. Our Love Bus Mother/Female Caregiver Support Group will now meet on Tuesdays from 10-11 AM or 8-9 PM. Whether you’re an early riser or prefer an evening session, we hope this makes it easier for you to connect with others walking a similar path. Our next session on March 11th will be an evening group. To join, email Colleen@lucyslovebus.org.
• Teen Cancer Support Group – A Safe Space for Connection
  Teens facing cancer often struggle to find peers who truly understand their experience. That’s why we’re proud to offer our Virtual Teen Cancer Support Group on the last Monday of every month at 4:30 PM. Led by Meditation and Yoga Therapist Ann Biese and Child Life Specialist Jeanne Hampton, this group provides a supportive space for teens to share, connect, and learn mindfulness techniques that can ease stress and promote well-being. To register, email colleen@lucyslovebus.org.
• Returning to The Sajni Center in 2025!
  After five years, integrative therapies are coming back to the Sajni Center! Since COVID, many of our in-person group programs have been held off-site, but in 2025, we are thrilled to reopen our beloved space for:
  • Aerial Yoga
  • Reflexology
  • A Reiki Workshop
  • And our most beloved program—Barn Babies!

We can’t wait to welcome families back for these healing and joyful experiences.

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• Kids’ Painting Party & Parent Social – March 23rd
  We’re teaming up with Camp Casco to host a Kids’ Painting Party & Parent Social on March 23rd!
  • For Kids (ages 3+): A fun-filled painting party at The Painting Place 4 Fun, where they can bring their creative vision to life!
  • For Parents: A relaxed social gathering with pizza and great company, offering time to connect with other caregivers in a supportive setting.
    This is a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy a meaningful and creative afternoon together.
• Virtual Offering for Caregivers: Tong Ren with Molly – March 16th
  Caregivers, take some time for yourselves with Tong Ren on March 16th at 7 PM. This distance energy healing technique focuses on balancing the body’s energy flow, promoting healing and relaxation. To register, email colleen@lucyslovebus.org.

Find all of our upcoming events on our Events Calendar. Learn more and register on the Group Programs registration page.

Program Milestones

Thanks to our incredible supporters, we are reaching more families in need than ever before. Since the start of 2025, we have welcomed:

• 21 new applicants to our Lucy’s Children program, bringing the total to 310 active participants.
• 18 new siblings to Sajni’s Siblings, now supporting 212 children.
• 19 new caregivers, increasing our caregiver support to 164 participants.

Across all programs, we are now providing comfort and care to 336 families.

As we continue to grow, we remain committed to ensuring that all families feel welcome and supported. Our Spanish-speaking Program Associate, Maria Joffrion, has been instrumental in connecting Spanish-speaking families with Love Bus programs through 1:1 peer support, group meetings, and community outreach. Recently, Maria visited Why Me, Sherry’s House in Worcester, where she helped several families find the resources and community they needed. If you or someone you know could benefit from Spanish-language support, reach out to Maria at maria@lucyslovebus.org.

Since expanding Ilene’s Caregivers in November to welcome all parents of children with cancer across New England—not just those with complex caregiving needs—we have seen more caregivers apply and receive the crucial support they need. If you are a parent of a child with cancer and haven’t yet applied, we encourage you to do so! This program offers valuable resources to help you navigate this journey.

Funding & Grants – A Heartfelt Thank You

We are deeply grateful to The Salah Foundation for their generous grant, which is helping us expand integrative therapies to children in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Because of this funding, 41 children in our Lucy’s Children program have received critical healing therapies.

Additional Resources & Partner Organizations

• Camp Casco camp sessions are now open for registration!
• Above the Clouds’ Dream Flyer program invites children (ages 8-18) to experience the joy of flight!
• Next Step Open House is on March 22nd

We are so grateful for the families, caregivers, donors, and supporters who make Lucy’s Love Bus what it is. Whether you are seeking support, attending an event, or helping fund these programs, your involvement changes lives.

"I can’t tell you how grateful I am for Lucy’s Love Bus! It’s been a really hard year emotionally, medically, and financially, and you are all angels. Your help with my son’s membership was huge!!! Thanks again."
— Paetra, Love Bus mom

These words remind us why we do what we do. Every therapy session, every support group, and every moment of comfort we provide is made possible by our incredible community. Thank you for being part of it!