The Chatham Twig, a branch of the Women's Association of Morristown Medical Center, started in 2010 and now is a large group of 60 members who are active monthly at Goryeb Children's Hospital, The Valerie Center and Simon Cancer Center. The Twig is involved with both hands-on projects and fundraising. Meals are delivered to the PICU monthly and for special holidays; the Goryeb pediatric playroom is decorated seasonally four times per year and patient goody bags are distributed during decorating days. Twice annually, the members host a high tea for cancer patients (often combined with a reception for the art therapy program) at the Simon Cancer Center and members assist with various parties and events at The Valerie Center throughout the year, including TVC's annual large holiday party. Members also make no-sew fleece blankets for pediatric patients, do collection drives (toiletries, play dough, pillowcases, school backpacks complete with supplies, videos and games, hair accessories, band aids, etc.) and generally help wherever is needed. The Twig holds fundraisers each year ranging from Yoga in the Garden and shopping and beauty nights to band parties.
Members are proud of the gifts given to the hospital each year since the Twig's founding. Our inaugural/partial year we provided $500 funding for Goryeb's yearlong pet therapy program; next, we gifted $1000 to purchase pediatric bereavement handprint kits; then we sent children with cancer to summer camp with a gift of $2500 and our last year we spent $2500 for high chairs and kid-friendly IV poles. In June of 2013 we gifted $5000 to support Goryeb's newly opened Liam's Room. Finally, our fifth anniversary year donations purchased a pediatric snack cart and 1300 infant sleep sacs for the NICU - endeavors totaling over $11,000!