Years ago, Melinda Mayton was working as a nurse at the bedside of kids with cancer, when she realized that there was something more she wanted to do to help these children and their families.
“I saw the impact on the whole family, with siblings often put on the back burner and parents spending all their time and focus trying to save the life of their child, not on just being able to enjoy time as a family,” said Melinda. “I mentioned to one of my coworkers that someone should start an organization that helps families of kids with cancer get some much-needed downtime, and she said, ‘What’s stopping you?’”
And that’s how Blue Skies Ministry got its start in Marietta 15 years ago. Blue Skies “offers hope through beach camps and mountain getaways to lift families above the dark and stormy clouds of childhood cancer—all free to families.” While they’re a faith-based organization, they serve families of any creed and have hosted camps not only in Georgia, but in Florida, Alabama, Dollywood, and even California as well.
Expanding Community Connections
Recently, Melinda decided to partner with Cobb Community Foundation to form the Blue Skies Agency Fund.
“I was in Leadership Cobb several years ago and was familiar with Cobb Community Foundation because they helped us during Covid. When I met with Cobb Community Foundation, they shared that they were interested in helping the citizens of Cobb County know about non-profits and how to support them. It was a wonderful opportunity to get the word out about our services and establish some financial stability,” said Melinda.
Blue Skies was excited to be a part of the Cobb Community Foundation non-profit bus tour of local stakeholders who stopped by their office to learn more about their mission.
“Our biggest hope for our partnership with Cobb Community Foundation is that local businesses get to know who we are and will hopefully want to partner with us to sponsor a family, or donate in any way, and that families who need us can know we are here to help,” said Melinda.
Building a Legacy of Love
The Blue Skies program has been highly successful, with many families benefiting and children who’ve survived cancer even coming back as young adults to help volunteer.
One Blue Skies recipient, Cheryl, shares her experiences with the program: “We were so blessed! This is the first trip that I didn’t have to plan every moment, and we were so nervous, but it was absolutely amazing! Blue Skies is nothing short of amazing. We were greeted with smiles and they never stopped! This ministry is completely surrounded by God’s hope for our kids’ futures. Being a cancer parent, you become part of a family you never wanted to be a part of. Blue Skies gives you a reason to smile in a season that is full of tears. Volunteers give unselfishly of their time and surround you with love, hope and joy.”
As the year-end approaches, Blue Skies is seeking donations to their Blue Skies Agency Fund through Cobb Community Foundation to continue their important work of giving families of children with cancer a chance to catch their breath in beautiful surroundings. Learn more at www.blueskiesministries.org.
