Angels’ Place was founded in 1997 by Anita Gilford. While her own son was in treatment for cancer, she found that there were few places her family could turn to for help. Being personally aware of this lack of support, she promised to dedicate her life to helping seriously ill children and their families. Her son won his fight against cancer and is now living a normal life. Anita fulfilled her promise and created Angels’ Place.
The ongoing mission is children’s respite service. Trained respite volunteers watch over Angels’ Place children at the hospital or provide household aid to the family free of charge. They receive clients through referrals from Children’s Hospital of New Orleans and Ochsner Health System.
When a child has a life-threatening illness, cancer or otherwise, it affects the whole family. The fight to preserve a child’s life is a tough one, so Angels Place respite volunteers are there to lend a hand when these families need any kind of basic help around the house or at the hospital. Sometimes, just having a shoulder to lean on makes all the difference.
Angels’ Place provides additional support to their families throughout the year with a gift card program and fun, family events such as Spring Fling, Art for Angels, and Halloween Booville. The largest of these events is the annual Christmas gift drive for all of the children of client families. With the help of hundreds of volunteers and donors, they give Santa a hand in making sure every Angels’ Place family gets a little Christmas cheer, especially if one of the kids will have to spend the holidays in the hospital.
Respite Care
Respite is “a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.” The focus of our mission is respite care for the families of our Angels suffering with a life threatening illness. Trained respite volunteers visit our Angels in the hospitals to give parents and guardians much needed relief and time to take a break, grab a meal, take care of siblings or just lend an ear to them during a very trying time. The Angels’ Place Respite Volunteers provide this service free of charge and with loads of love and compassion.
The mission of Angels’ Place is to provide ongoing support services to children with life threatening illnesses and their families. Consistent with the vision of our founder Anita Gilford, they support these families in a loving and caring manner throughout the year.
If you or someone you know has a child diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, and live in the greater New Orleans area, your family may qualify to be Angels’ Place clients! They know your situation is tough, and they definitely would like to help.
Call Mary Kantlehner at (504) 455-2620 to find out if you qualify, or complete the application below. They also accept applications by fax, mail, e-mail, or drop-off if you prefer to print and complete the form in writing.
See Contact Us for our location and all their contact information.
Please note, a social worker from Children’s Hospital or Ochsner Hospital may be able to help you apply. They also take home referrals from parents.
If accepted as a client family, you may have access to respite service and other types of support at no charge. Respite service volunteers generally visit children in the hospital to help make sure they get the attention they need. You may also benefit from the charity drives, and receive help from their staff in applying for other assistance programs. Not to mention the fun children’s events held just for Angels’ Place families!