​How We Help

When a family faces a medical crisis or loss, every facet of daily life is affected.  Larchmont Friends of the Family helps in countless ways, depending on the individual needs of each family.  We start by listening to the family’s needs and creating a customized, confidential assistance plan. Even if a family has an active support network, LFOF will find a way to fill in the gaps and reduce stress during a difficult time. ​

​Connecting with a family

In times of crisis, privacy is precious. So we will not just reach out and contact a family on our own. We need to know that the family is interested in hearing from us. This usually happens in one of two ways: either the family contacts us directly to say they could use some support; or a friend, neighbor, or colleague reaches out on the family's behalf and with their permission. Once a family has been referred to LFOF, one of our trained volunteers will follow up. 

​Customizing an Assistance Plan

Two members of our assessment team will meet privately with the family to discuss what kind of help would be most meaningful. Plans will completely depend on the particular situation and the needs of the family at the time. Our trained volunteers are creative and compassionate, and will often think of ways to help that the family might not even anticipate. Typically, there is some combination of services provided.
Here are some specific ways we have aided our families:

• Meals quietly delivered to the front door, provided by our volunteers
  
• Housecleaning, groceries and laundry services for families coping with grief or serious illness
  
• Transportation to and from medical appointments or hospital visits
  
• Childcare, camp, or after school activities so an ill parent can rest knowing that the children are well cared for
  
• Administrative help with insurance documents, medical bills and other mounting paperwork
  
• Counseling services for bereaved family members
  
• Short-term financial help while a family is recovering from the tragic loss of a parent
  
• Holiday gifts for children in a household overwhelmed by a health crisis
  
• A second medical opinion for a critically ill child
  
• Sperm-banking for a teenager undergoing chemotherapy
  
• Help with college applications after the death of a parent
  
• Health aide services to allow a sick parent to stay at home with his or her family
  

​Timeframe for providing assistance

Because our mission is focused on easing stress and difficulty during the immediate time of crisis, we provide help for no more than three months at a time. This does not mean that we can’t revisit a family and help them again, but a limited timeframe allows us to have a focused commitment to each family, and ultimately to serve more families.

Confidentiality

We do not disclose the names of families we are assisting. The only people who know the details of the situation are the two trained assessment volunteers who meet with the family. Occasionally, a family is so grateful for the assistance provided by LFOF that they choose on their own to publicly express gratitude or tell others about their experience. But this will never be initiated by LFOF.