The Gathering Place provides free services to those touched by cancer throughout the community

By Patricia Nugent

The hospital cured my cancer, but The Gathering Place saved my soul.”

This quote from a cancer survivor gets to the heart of this local grassroots charity. With the mission of providing free programs and services that support, educate and empower those diagnosed with cancer and their families, The Gathering Place is a refuge for people who may feel lost, confused, helpless, stressed or depressed along their journeys.

TGP opened its doors on the East Side in 2000, then a second location opened in Westlake in 2008, before moving to its current location in the Tri-C Corporate College Building in 2017. Its brightly lit spaces are punctuated with artwork from cancer survivors, inviting furnishings and amenities.

“Our goal was to create a space that feels warm and welcoming, not sterile and cold like a medical center,” says CEO Michele Seyranian.

Ongoing offerings include individual and group support, art therapy, massage, reiki, exercise and nutritional classes, and all programs are now being offered in-person and virtually. The onsite library is stacked with helpful literature for people of all ages, with all stages of cancer.

“Another important niche we fill is acting as a resource, helping collaborate with other agencies to make sure each person gets exactly what they need,” she adds.

The holidays can be a particularly stressful time of year for those suffering from cancer or dealing with the grief that comes with loss. TGP offers targeted classes and support groups to address this.

Upscale Resale Home Décor Shopping
To keep their services free, The Gathering Place opened a resale home furnishings warehouse, featuring high-quality donated

furniture and home décor within the Westlake location.

“We are blessed with a loyal and generous following who donate to us and see this as shopping with a purpose,” says Amy Bell, who oversees the warehouse operations. “If anyone is interested in donating, they can just call me and send a photo of the item. For larger items or groups of items, we will send a truck to pick them up, at no charge.”

“People have furnished their entire homes by shopping here,” says Amy, “And we have a lot of interior designers who shop with us, as well as parents of college students, newlyweds and Realtors staging homes. We offer everything from furniture (kitchen tables and chairs, barstools, sofas, chairs, bars, China cabinets, side tables, antiques, collectibles, coffee tables, bed headboards) to lamps, tableware, crystal and glassware, wall art, sculptures, candlesticks, vases, mirrors, rugs, purses, belts, blankets, seasonal items and more.”

With well-known names like Arhaus, Baker, Bernhardt and Brewster & Stroud, furniture styles range from shabby chic to traditional, rustic, modern, globally inspired, Boho and transitional. Amy says that a lot of their loyal shoppers like to “pre-shop” the sales and get a sneak peek beforehand, so she posts pictures of pieces on Facebook. Finally, they do offer gift certificates to the warehouse, which are available in any denomination and would make a perfect gift for the holidays.

Purchase with a Purpose
Pictured are examples of furnishings purchased at The Gathering Place warehouse sales that have now found a new home. Pop in for amazing deals at one of the upcoming TGP warehouse sales—Saturday, November 19 and Saturday, December 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Can’t make it either of those days? Contact Amy Bell at TGPwarehouse@touchedbycancer.org to schedule a private shopping appointment. All proceeds go to support the free programs at TGP.

The Gathering Place is a 501(c)(3) charity located within the Tri-C Corporate College West building at the corner of Columbia Road and 25425 Center Ridge Road in Westlake. The Warehouse is located on the lower level, with plans to move into a new space adjacent to The Gathering Place soon. Call 216-595-9546 or visit TouchedByCancer.org/TGP-Warehouse for more information. To donate tax-deductible items, email Amy at tgpwarehouse@touchedbycancer.org or scan the QR code here.