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The Ukandu Loft
A headquarters and welcoming hub coming Winter 2025
The Ukandu Loft
In the Winter of 2025, The Ukandu Loft will open and become our programming hub and headquarters. Located just six minutes from Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and 11 minutes from Randall Children’s Hospital, The Loft will facilitate hope, joy, community, and connection - all year long. This expansion means new year-round opportunities will be available to families in addition to the existing Ukandu programs you know and love.
This expansion represents a quantum leap for programs available to families throughout the state of Oregon, and throughout the Pacific Northwest. We are so excited to partner with other amazing organizations in this critical ecosystem to bring holistic, wrap-around, care for these incredibly deserving families.
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The Need for Ongoing, Year-Round Support
Since 1986, Ukandu has served families throughout Oregon and across the region. Ukandu creates safe spaces where the weight of suffering, uncertainty, and feelings of helplessness are confronted by their most worthy adversaries – compassion, community, solidarity, and love – 100% free of charge.
Now, drawing from decades of experience and research conducted with OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute, we are expanding our offerings to address the desire for deeper, year-round services that foster prolonged connection, lasting bonds, and ongoing support. The Loft will be the first of it's kind in the United States!
Year-round Programs
The data is clear. Access to mental health support was the primary service gap identified in our research. The Loft will offer year-round support to families navigating a childhood cancer diagnosis with programs designed to respond to gaps in services identified in our research, such as: support & affinity groups, wellness classes, parent’s night out, daily drop-in hours, professional mental health support, and more.
Loft Programming
Informed by research conducted with OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute and requested directly by families.
Mental health services provided by licensed clinicians and facilitated by those who have previous navigated this journey
Support group discussions such as 'New Journeyers', 'Managing Marriage, Parenting, and Cancer', and 'Bereavement'
Drop-in hours six days a week with access to our two story rock wall, parent lounge, outdoor fire pit, reflection garden, and more
Drop your kids off at The Loft while you reconnect at a Parent's Night Out
Get help navigating insurance, financial planning, IEPs, and more with the help of a network of professionals
Gather around our outdoor firepit for a movie under the stars on our 20' blow up movie screen
What Our Community Says
“I think The Loft is an opportunity to be thought leaders and growth leaders in the medical community and create something that people will look at and say, ‘Oh, that. Every kid should have that. Every family should have that. A hub. A place where they can go to...where they can feel seen and heard and supported.’ We want that.”
Dr Amy King, PhD | Licensed Psychologist
“We need a place within the community that allows families to get together, to feel a sense of community, to be able to relate with one another, and to tell stories of and share stories of what they’ve been through. I think that Ukandu is well-suited to provide this community space because they’ve been doing it for a long time. I think it will be a great place outside of the hospital to help heal.”
Dr. Jason Glover, MD | Pediatric Oncologist
Get Involved
Join our community and make a difference!
There are several ways you can get involved and support our mission.
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