Episode 3: Candlelighters for Children with Cancer - Jackie Groah

Jackie Groah, executive director of Candlelighters for Children with Cancer, joins us to share the impact Candlelighters is making in the lives of families with children diagnosed with cancer.

Jackie Groah, Executive Director

It’s hard enough to hear that your child has been diagnosed with cancer. But when you are unable to work because you are with your child in the hospital, have glaring bills for medication and treatment, and feel like you are the only one going through this, it can be almost unbearable. This is the belief held by Candlelighters and is why they work to support the entire family.

Candlelighters Family Camp

Since 1977, Candlelighters has been serving families by providing programs such as emergency financial assistance, an annual family camp, family activities, bereavement support, and a hospital meal program. Over the past few years, the programs and funding have expanded to reach even more families struggling through this difficult journey.

Candlelighters also works hard to give as much as possible to its programs, with 84 cents of every dollar going directly to program support. Over the past 42 years, Candlelighters has served more than 82,000 family members in this difficult journey and is depended upon by hospitals all over the state of Oregon.

Episode 2: Fly Fishing Collaborative - Bucky Buchstaber

Bucky Buchstaber, founder and executive director of Fly Fishing Collaborative (FFC), joins us to share how he uses fly fishing to help rescue children from sex trafficking across the world.

Many people tend to separate their spiritual lives from other aspects of life. But to Bucky, the idea that activities such as going to church, praying, and reading scripture are spiritual while things like fishing, sports, and working are not, is just plain wrong.

“I wasn’t looking for a new job. I was looking to find more meaning in every aspect of life”

— Bucky

Bucky has always loved fly fishing and wanted to turn an activity that had seemingly no spiritual aspect into something that could transform lives. As Bucky’s passion grew and other fishermen joined the cause to stop sex trafficking, eventually FFC was born. Now, FFC builds aquaponics farms around the world to provide financial support for impoverished communities that are at risk for sex trafficking. In addition, experienced fly fishermen and fishing guides donate their time, services, and products to FFC to be sold to the fly fishing community. Below is a video that explains what aquaponics farming is how it helps prevent sex trafficking.

You can learn more at https://flyfishingcollaborative.org/

I hope you enjoyed this episode! What are some creative ways you have seen people make a positive impact with something that seemed ordinary? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!

Episode 1: Humanizing the Other - Bruce Arnold (HOMEpdx)

In this episode, Bruce Arnold with HOMEpdx shares what it means to humanize the other. You can check out HOMEpdx’s website here.

From a young age, Bruce knew he wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, but it wasn’t until he was older that he realized what that would look like. He went from having a solid career to giving up everything to join HOMEpdx, an organization dedicated to loving and serving people on the streets of Portland. In this episode, Bruce challenges our perceptions of what it means to be “normal” and shares practical steps on how to treat “the other” as true human beings.