Crafting Compassion–Support Women with Cancer with Your Makes This Fall

A guest blog post by Dr. Nishanga Bliss, Charlotte Maxwell Clinic Medical Director

I love makers.  Makers are people who do things, who love using their hands to create beauty and share it.  That can-do maker spirit thrives at the Charlotte Maxwell Clinic (CMC) in Oakland, and we’d love you to be a part of it. 

Over 35 years ago a group of women gathered to create a free clinic, offering integrative medicine treatments to low-income women with cancer in the Bay Area.  Many of them had been caregivers for Charlotte Maxwell, a public health pioneer who assembled this team to support her during her cancer treatments.  After 2 years of consensus meetings working out the clinic’s model, these powerful women opened the clinic doors, and we have supported thousands of women with integrative health treatments since.

On a visit to CMC, clients can not only receive acupuncture, herbal medicine, energy work, movement instruction, nutrition counseling, sound healing or one of many other integrative therapies, but visit our goodie table where organic produce, prepared foods and gifts may be found.  For someone struggling with a challenging diagnosis and treatment as well as financial hardship and often, discrimination and social isolation, these visits are life-changing. Over 60% of our clients are Black, indigenous and people of color, and over a third are immigrants.   Nearly half are living with stage 3 or 4 cancers.  Becoming part of the CMC circle of care has a tremendous impact on their health and communities.

Charlotte Maxwell Clinic can do this because of the many community members  who donate their time and resources  to make this magic happen.  We’d love you to support the Charlotte Maxwell Clinic, using your creative skills as a maker to craft a hat, scarf, lap blanket or other item that can bring warmth, softness, cheer and compassion to someone who is struggling with her diagnosis.  Drop your item off in the basket at Black Squirrel anytime this month, through November 20, and your generosity  will touch someone’s heart.

To find out more about volunteering at CMC:https://charlottemaxwell.org/get-involved/volunteer/

To donate: https://charlottemaxwell.org/get-involved/donate/

Dr. Nishanga Bliss was conceived during the Summer of Love and born on Earth Day.  She’s been  practicing Chinese and integrative medicine for over 25 years with a focus on underserved communities, and is a fiber artist who loves the process from fleece to finished make.