THE HEART TOUCH PROJECT

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Causes: Children & Youth, Children & Youth Services, Community Health Systems, Health, Nursing

Mission: The Heart Touch Project is a non profit educational organization dedicated to the training and delivery of compassionate and healing touch to homebound or hospitalized, men, women and children. Heart Touch teaches a gentle, nurturing and mindful form of touch therapy based on a profound respect for the physical and psychological needs of the individual. Strictly speaking, the Heart Touch approach is neither a technique nor a modality, but a specialized form of skilled touch, based on a holistic approach to therapeutic massage. The Heart Touch Project was begun by Shawnee Isaac Smith, a certified bodyworker. In the early 1990s, she had a request for a bodywork session from a friend who was terminally ill with AIDS. At the time, an AIDS diagnosis was a virtual death sentence and there a widespread reluctance among bodyworkers to touch anyone infected with the virus. As more effective HIV/AIDS medications became available, a diagnosis of AIDS became a condition that one lived with rather than died from. As Heart Touch clients became healthier, we expanded our outreach and began sending volunteers to elder care facilities and hospices and eventually expanded to working with medically complex infants and children.

Community Stories

2 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

klyonsmassage Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/06/2012

In my search for non-profit organizations that helps adults and children in their end of life treatment, I came across The Heart Touch Project. I have been volunteering and working with hospice clients for years and wanted to take more classes to advance my knowledge and skills. Not only did I learn and grow, I have decided to make The Heart Touch Project my 2012 year goal, and go with them to Cambodia in Nov 2012. I have been at the Compassionate Touch training in CA and have told all my fellow Massage Therapists to travel there to do the training as well. It's more important to me to love what you do then do anything for money. I was able to give my gives of love and compassionate touch to others. And will be sharing it with more children and adults in Cambodia as well. I love The Heart Touch Project and they are in my life for good now! I can't wait to go to more classes and learn/grow with them in the future! :)

Cheryl34 Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/03/2012

I was so happy when I found The Heart Touch Project two years ago. Being a massage therapist, I felt like I needed to take my practice a step further, by using touch to provide comfort to those at end of life. I have taken both the Compassionate Touch and Advanced class and have been volunteering with weekly visits to elderly clients for more than 2 years. I am blessed to be able to help others feel nurtured and cared about.

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