Stacie shares these tips from the book, The Unbroken Circle, by James Brooks:

Listen with an open heart.  Because many thoughts, emotion and questions are possible, the way to understand is to begin with listening

Offer compassionate support.  Keep your focus on the other person: his or her stories, quest ion, thoughts and feelings.  Express your support, encouragement or love as the person faces these issues.

Be present.  Fear of not knowing what to say keeps many people from having conversations with people who are very ill.  Realize it’s your presence that matters most.

Listening, offering compassion, and being present are key elements that Circles of Care volunteers offer to those they support. Circles of Care has trained over 175 Durham, Wake, and Orange county residents on the support team model.  They are encouraged to do what they enjoy to do when they are able to do it in a coordinated way.  Each person works in their own talent and gift to provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support to someone living with a serious illness.  A variety of skills are available when team members do what they enjoy.

Circles of Care support teams have provided transportation, yard work, meals, assistance with hobbies, faith studies, and social outings.  People supported by Circles of Care have described the experience as being powerful, a blessing, encouraging, and some have said “the team has saved my life.”

Circles of Care creates support teams that provide emotional, spiritual, and practical support for African Americans facing a serious illness, and focuses on the total pain of the person wanting the care. 

If you are a member of a  church, sorority, fraternity, civic organization in Durham, Wake, Orange and Chatham counties, or a community member that wants to give back contact Stacie Peacock at (919)-402-1844 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to find out how you can establish a team.  Click here to learn more about Circles of Care.