Wings of Hope Cancer Support Center of Council Bluffs works to help with the emotional and mental health needs of those who have been affected by cancer. Wings of Hope offers care provided by oncologists and other health care providers, free of charge, to all cancer patients, survivors, and partners. Founded in 1987 as a monthly cancer support group, it blossomed in 1994 into a nonprofit organization. As Wings of Hope itself says, “We actively work with clients who want to heal and are looking for hope in the darkness.”

Their services include: a 9-week program called “A Time to Heal”, in which those who have completed their initial cancer treatment with their healing in all areas of their lives; “Companion Counseling”, where one-on-one counseling options are offered for cancer patients and their partners; financial assistance for dealing with the medical costs of treatment; multiple styles of therapy; guided yoga and Qi Gong, a style of low-grade physical exercise that blends with meditation; support groups for the full family and friends via Zoom; weekly online meetings; a care plan; and their Healing Garden program. They also provide patients with what they call “survivor bags”, consisting of helpful resources, items to help with their healing, wings and hats, and other useful items.

If you would like to donate to Wings of Hope, you can go to their website at wingsofhope.org/donate, or through AmazonSmile. You can also donate items for their survivor bags, such as travel-sized hand sanitizer, toothpaste, lotion, chapstick, mints, and crossword puzzles and the like. If you would like to volunteer, they can use people helping with sewing, data entry, mailings, reminder calls, and event support. You can also consider holding a fundraiser for them through your organization or school.

Wings of Hope will be holding its second ever Wine-D Down with Wings event, hosted at the Bodega Victoriana Winery and Wedding Barn outside of Glenwood, IA. Wine will be provided by the winery, and dinner will be Neapolitan pizza from Dante, with live music by Paul Hart. Tickets are $35 per person, or $60 per couple, and purchase of tickets will include a commemorative wine glass, and two (2) drink tickets. All proceeds will go to support Wings of Hope.

If you would like to find out more about Wings of Hope, you can go to their website at wingsofhope.org. You can also call them at 712-325-8970, or email info@wingsofhope.org.