Lila ’26 is leading art classes at the Caring House in Durham, offering cancer patients and their caregivers a creative space to relax and feel supported by a caring community.
The farther I get into my summer grant work, leading art classes at the Caring House for cancer patients and their caregivers, the more I notice the parallels between this community and the one at DA. The Caring House provides affordable housing to adult cancer patients receiving treatment at Duke Cancer Institute and their caregivers, who may be friends, spouses, or family members. While many guests come from across North Carolina, others travel from around the world. What stands out to me is the way the year-round staff, who all live locally, spend their time supporting the guests who come from all over the globe. As guests come and go, the support from the team stays the same. It’s a small community in Durham, but its outreach and impact are global with lasting effects on guests and volunteers. Growing up in the Triangle, the Caring House has always been a familiar part of my life. Whether I was there making cookies or at the annual Christmas party, I saw how tight-knit and vital the community was to the wellbeing of the guests. I am so excited to use the summer grant to hold art classes at the Caring House, holding a space for guests and caregivers to relax and take their minds off treatment even for a little while.
