Creating communities through the delight of play, The Light Collective sheds “light amongst the darkness” for families navigating the challenges of childhood cancer. Designed to respond to the isolation caused by COVID-19 closures, The Light Collective addresses the need for connection through fun family experiences coupled with community building in the safety of participants’ homes. Since its launch in December 2020, the Light Collective has grown from 11 to 75 families, creating joyful experiences and building resilient communities one family at a time.
Matchbox Day: Creating Joyful Family Memories
The centerpiece of this vital work is Matchbox Day. Every month, families who are on active treatment or within one year of treatment for their cancer diagnosis receive a box chockful of adventure and fun in the comfort and safety of their home, hospital room, or Ronald MacDonald homestay. Anticipation builds as children look forward to fun themes such as “Welcome to the County Fair,” “Tropical January,” or “Winter Wonderland.” A convenient restaurant gift card accompanies the matchbox allowing families to enjoy a meal from a favorite restaurant together at home. Creating positive memories even under the most challenging times keeps spirits high for families navigating a cancer diagnosis.
“Part of it is realizing that it is so important to create a ritual of play,” explains J.J. Kissinger, founder and executive director of The Light Collective. “It is hard to build in a ritual of play and connection for a family under the best circumstances. It is very difficult to create a rhythm of turning towards one another, putting down devices, and making memories together.”
Matchbox Day provides an easy option for families who are already dealing with so much to find joy and create memories together during a difficult time. “Right away, families were just gushing about how wonderful it was to feel seen and cared for and have something fun show up at their door to distract them from all that they were doing,” Kissinger explains.
Building Resilient Communities
An essential part of Matchbox Day is the opportunity for families to participate in the fun with other families going through similar challenges. From the comfort and safety of their home, families meet via Zoom for an evening of crafts and games connected to the matchbox theme.
“It has been great for parents and kids to see other families who are going through the same thing,” says Kissinger. “Many live in small towns where it is highly unlikely that they will find anyone else in their town who has any personal lived experience with something like this. It has become a real lifeline for families to feel understood.”
In addition to family fun, facilitated Zoom sessions for parents provide support and offer an opportunity to discuss these families’ unique challenges. “These sessions allow them to cut to the core of things, the more emotional stuff,” explains Kissinger. “Creating a community of care where parents can be vulnerable and where they can meet other parents. That is one of the most extraordinary parts of what we do.”
As the world returns to normal pre-pandemic routines, some families remain in a world of isolation. “The space that we are hoping to show up for is to show these families that they have not been forgotten, and there are people who want them to have fun together as a family and have a connection with other cancer families,” Kissinger continues. “They do not have to walk through it all alone.”
Creating a Hopeful Future Together
Although the darkest days of the pandemic may be behind us, the critical work of the Light Collective has shed light on the fact that some families will continue to mask, miss the birthday party, or be unable to attend the baseball game. “It was important for us to create something that was not just filling a gap until we could go back to what we were doing before,” Kissinger explains. “But really think about what is possible now that wasn’t possible before.”
The hope and joy that Matchbox Day and supporting services bring to families will continue long after the pandemic days. Exciting plans for additional services, such as an in-person carnival day or week-long summer camp for families, are also in the works.
“My dream would be that Matchbox Day becomes more than just a day and ends up reshaping their experience when they look back on this really horrible time where most memories are going to be painful,” Kissinger says. “We are trying to repopulate really wonderful memories too during this time.”
Consider being a part of this vision by donating a financial gift or a gift of your time by visiting the Light Collective online.
