Donations are key to running Angels’ Place. Readers are welcome to donate on the organization’s website. Taking part in the organization’s fundraisers also helps. Letting others in the community know about Angels’ Place and its many resources is also beneficial. Their clients extend from the Greater New Orleans Area to the North Shore. If you or a loved one could benefit from their services, or you would like to get involved, don’t hesitate to contact Firmin and his team.
angelsplacenola.org
facebook.com/AngelsPlaceInc
Founded by Anita Gilford in 1997, Angels’ Place offers respite care for children diagnosed with a serious illness, as well as their families. Now run by executive director Mark Firmin, the organization provides crucial help for families facing difficult circumstances.
As a longtime teacher at Archbishop Rummel High School, Mark Firmin was involved in a significant amount of service work. Both he and Gilford were given a “Making A Difference Award” from WDSU around the same time, and he reached out to her to get involved. Right away Firmin helped out with their Christmas party, complete with Santa and elf suits. This became an annual event hosted at a larger venue at Rummel. In time, Firmin joined the board and, when Gilford retired, became executive director of Angels’ Place.
“Our mission is to provide ongoing support services to a child who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease and their families,” said Firmin. “We are one of the few organizations that addresses as much of the family as we can.” This attention to whole families, as well as the ability to anticipate their needs, makes the care provided by Angels’ Place significant.
Respite care is one of the organization’s most crucial aspects. Trained volunteers go into the hospital to check in with patients who are receiving care. They may sit with the patient and read a book, play a game, and generally give the child’s caregiver a break.
Volunteers are taught how to connect with these young patients, some of whom have serious diagnoses. “I tell our volunteers to do what you can for them in the moment,” said Firmin. The child gets to hear a story or engage in a game for a bit and simply be a child, regardless of their medical issues.
The Angels’ Place team provides gift cards to families to help with unexpected costs, whether that’s gas, clothes for the hospital, or a take-out meal for kids who aren’t fans of hospital food. In addition, the organization provides Christmas presents to all the children and their siblings so the parent’s don’t have to deal with holiday shopping. They also provide school supplies for the children.
A number of events throughout the year offer the families the chance to spend a few hours of worry-free time together. The Spring Fling party includes face painting, balloon animals, and games, while a Halloween party invites the children to go trick-or-treating in a safe area. The Summer Carnival (on June 1, 2024) also includes cotton candy, popcorn, and hot dogs–all the kid-friendly summer treats. As Firmin explains, these gatherings are a great opportunity to just let the kids be kids and enjoy a few hours without worrying about the next shot, chemo treatment, or doctor visit.
Zoom support groups for the parents also provide information about additional resources for the parents. In addition, these meetings let the parents get together to compare their experiences, as well as offer advice and support. The meetings are run by the program director for Angels’ Place, and a therapist is also on hand.
Firmin acknowledges the gravity of what these families are going through. “It’s really hard. If a child has been diagnosed with cancer, a heart defect, a brain tumor – anything considered life-threatening – that just throws a whole wrench in the family unit,” said Firmin. The parents may face financial concerns about medical care. Meanwhile, any siblings may feel a bit slighted (even if they don’t mean to) because mom and dad are spending so much time at the hospital. So, the Angels’ Place team tries to take care of as much as they can, allowing these families to focus on their child and lead a more normal life.
Their impact is remarkable. Including parents, siblings, and the children who are sick, the Angels’ Place team is serving more than 340 individuals at the moment. “We need the kindness of the community to help us help these families,” said Firmin.
Get Involved
Donations are key to running Angels’ Place. Readers are welcome to donate on the organization’s website. Taking part in the organization’s fundraisers also helps. Letting others in the community know about Angels’ Place and its many resources is also beneficial. Their clients extend from the Greater New Orleans Area to the North Shore. If you or a loved one could benefit from their services, or you would like to get involved, don’t hesitate to contact Firmin and his team.
angelsplacenola.org
facebook.com/AngelsPlaceInc
