The mission of Gilda's Club Capital Region New York is to create a welcoming community of free support for everyone living with cancer – men, women, teens and children – along with their families and friends…

Each member of Noogieland, our children’s program, has been affected by cancer. Yet, children say “Coming to Noogieland is the best part of my week!” Noogieland allows children to work through their feelings, have questions regarding cancer answered and express their grief as they release balloons with a goodbye message to the friends they have lost. The program teaches about cancer, encourages expression of feelings and ways to deal with stress, anxiety, and apprehension associated with cancer. Noogieland is a special and magical place because of the smiles as children share their hopes and dreams; the tears as a child shares about how they found out his/her parent died or was diagnosed; the laughter of a child enjoying just being a kid; the change in a child’s facial expression when he/she sees a child come in with no hair; the empathy shown and learned as a child hugs another; the excitement in the children’s eyes as they run down to Noogieland, and the untiring support of the volunteers and facilitators. We facilitate all of this through expressive play and support activities including- arts and crafts, drama games, pet therapy, photography, cooking, team-building activities, journaling, yoga, circle time, and story time.   

Gilda’s Club Capital Region NY is proud to be recognized by and joined with Northeast Parent and Child Society in providing a needed program to children and families within our community.