WHO WE HELP

We know that the illness impacts not just the person who is sick, but their entire family. Chai Lifeline Canada services include support for siblings, parents and children, and more:

Children’s Programs

We know that the illness impacts not just the person who is sick, but their entire family. Chai Lifeline Canada services include support for siblings, parents and children, and more:

Aaron’s Apple

For many chronic illnesses, the only option to ease the suffering comes in the form of extremely expensive medication and treatments. Aaron’s Apple provides direct funds to eligible families for medication, treatments, and patient amenities for chronically ill children whose families cannot afford these costs.

Sponsored by:

Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special

Since 2005, Chai Lifeline Canada has been sending clients to Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special, located on a beautiful 125-acre campus in New York’s scenic Catskill Mountains. Developed by pediatric specialists and camping mavens, the camp combines superb medical care with the fun and frenzy of camp life. Camp Simcha offers two-week sessions for campers with cancer and other blood disorders and Camp Simcha Special offers two-week sessions for children with chronic illnesses.

The cost to send one camper for a two-week session is $10,000 CDN. Thanks to our generous donors, Chai Lifeline Canada sends a select number of campers every summer.

Sponsored by:

Camp Lifeline Away

Since 2020, Chai Lifeline Canada has offered a one-week overnight camp experience for siblings of Chai Lifeline clients and children of a parent with serious illness. Held at an overnight camp facility in Ontario at the end of each summer, this camp showers attention on children who live in homes with illness. The camp has case management staff on site 24/7.

chronically ill and disabled children and teens.

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Disneyworld

Two separate Disney World trips lift the spirits of pediatric cancer patients and children who have recently lost a parent to illness or sudden death. (Sponsored by Ohr Meir Foundation and Penina’s Helping Hand)

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Camp Lifeline

Held in both Toronto and Montreal, Camp Lifeline is a local day camp for children ages 4 to 9, who are unable to attend regular summer camps due to complex medical needs or an increased risk of contracting infection. The camp takes place during the month of July or August and provides a unique camping experience filled with play, laughter and growth in a supportive environment tailored specifically to our campers.

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Heart to Heart Big Brothers & Sisters

Social and recreational activities give brothers and sisters the opportunity to befriend other siblings and receive the extra attention they need to thrive in a difficult environment.

Sponsored by:

Shining Stars

Held in both Toronto and Montreal, Shining Stars provides weekly after-school fun for school children who have a sibling or a parent that is ill. This program focuses on building skills and developing friendships in a safe and supportive environment. Shining Stars includes transportation from the child’s school, homework assistance, fun and games, snacks, dinner, and then transportation home.

Sponsored by:

Wish at the Well

A spiritually reinvigorating trip to Israel for teens who are at least one-year post treatment or whose chronic illness can be medically managed during the energetic ten-day excursion.

Sponsored by:

Penina’s Helping Hand

Penina’s Helping Hand provides support to young children who have a seriously ill parent. Unparalleled emotional and social support are offered to each member of the family. Case management, counseling, special trips, toy drives, family retreats, and crisis intervention services all bring help and hope to children, families, and communities.

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FAMILY Programs

Our programs and services take care of everything from the mundane, like help getting to doctors’ appointments and hot meals when children are hospitalized,to the extraordinary, like medically supervised overnight camps that give children confidence, courage, and life skills they need to fight dreaded illnesses.

Hospital Services

Transportation assistance, meals for patients and caregivers, and personal entertainment systems for children, ease the stress of a child’s hospitalization.

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Counseling

Individual, group and family counselling for sick children, siblings and parents.

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Family Programs

Tickets to events, programs and shows give children and adults warm memories that sustain them through painful and difficult periods. Holiday parties and family days bring smiles to children’s faces and moments of hope to their parents while making memories that last a lifetime.

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Financial Assistance

Often times a parent will have to take leave from work to properly care for a seriously ill child. Chai Lifeline offers financial support during this trying time. In addition, all of our services are always free so our incredible supportive community can help families without any worry about finances.

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Case Assistance

Immediate help, information, emotional and psychological support, and immediate access to all of Chai Lifeline Canada’s program and services.

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Support Groups

Support and counselling for parents via biweekly telephone/ZOOM support groups that connect them with other parents of seriously ill children and a therapist.

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COMMUNITY Services

Volunteer Opportunities

Get involved by being a Big Sibling, prepare gift baskets for patients and families, visit homebound patients, be a counsellor at our social and recreational events and MORE! CLC hosts workshops and training sessions to introduce new volunteers to Chai Lifeline’s goals, practices, policies and philosophy.

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Crisis Intervention

Crisis intervention teams assist families, schools, camps, synagogues and other community institutions during the first days and weeks following the diagnosis of serious illness, or the death of a child or young parent.

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Toy Drive

Bring joy to patients and their siblings by collecting and distributing toys, games, books and gift cards during the Chanukah season and all year round!

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