Dempsey Center

Dempsey Dog Meet + Greet: Rocco [Rock Row]
2025-11-17 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Dempsey Center – Rock Row, 11 Rock Row, Westbrook, ME, 04092, United States
Therapy dogs can help to provide emotional support, alleviate stress, improve moods, and help boost confidence. We are proud to encourage the animal-human bond through our teams of Dempsey Dogs, trained and registered by Pet Partners.
Drop into our Rock Row center and say “hi” to our Dempsey Dog Teams. No sign-up needed!

Rocco is expected most 1st + 3rd Mondays, 10:00-11:30AM.

Care Partner Support Group Series [Rock Row]
2025-11-17 11:00 - 12:30
If you are providing emotional and/or physical support to someone with cancer, this is the place for you. This 10-week group provides a safe, comfortable place to find the support, information, and understanding you need to continue caring for your loved one. We will discuss how to reduce isolation, worry, and fear.

Led by Sarah Kelley, LMSW-cc

Open to Dempsey Center clients who are care partners to a loved one diagnosed with cancer.

Rock Row Cancer Support Group Series [Rock Row]
2025-11-18 10:00 - 11:15
Meet in person at our Rock Row location with others impacted by cancer in this 12-week support group. Whether you were recently diagnosed, in the midst of treatment, or are now with no evidence of disease, this group is a place to discuss your diagnosis and its lingering impact with those who truly understand.

Led by Jennifer Keefe, MSW Intern.

Open to adult Dempsey Center clients with a cancer diagnosis at any stage.
Participants must be residents of Maine.

Financial Matters: Tools, Tips + Support [Rock Row]
2025-11-18 11:30 - 12:30
Cancer is expensive — and managing finances during treatment can quickly become overwhelming. Between medical bills, lost income, and unexpected costs, it’s easy to feel unprepared. This workshop offers practical tools and guidance to help you navigate income changes, prioritize expenses, make difficult financial decisions, work with financial advisors, and plan for the future. Feel more confident about your financial planning through an open discussion designed to make a tough topic easier to face.

Led by Ted Gaiser.

Open to adult Dempsey Center clients.

Dempsey Dog Meet + Greet: Louise Cheese [Rock Row]
2025-11-19 09:00 - 10:00
Therapy dogs can help to provide emotional support, alleviate stress, improve moods, and help boost confidence. We are proud to encourage the animal-human bond through our teams of Dempsey Dogs, trained and registered by Pet Partners.
Drop into our Rock Row center and say “hi” to our Dempsey Dog Teams. No sign up needed!

Interested in spending some time with one of our Dempsey Dogs teams individually? Call 877-336-7287 to schedule your private Paws Together appointment with one of our therapy dog teams.

Chair Yoga [Rock Row]
2025-11-19 09:45 - 10:30
Join us for a gentle, accessible form of yoga, open to all levels of experience. Chair Yoga utilizes both seated and standing poses using a chair for support to provide all the benefits of a traditional yoga practice. We will use movement, breathing, and mindfulness to improve muscular strength, bone density, immune support, flexibility, energy, sleep, and posture.

Led by Tish Caldwell, Dempsey Center’s Movement + Fitness Manager, Certified Oncology Yoga Instructor.

Open to Dempsey Center clients in active treatment or post-treatment and their primary care partner.
This workshop will have both a virtual and in-person audience. You are signing up to attend in-person at Rock Row.

Yoga for Cancer Care [Rock Row]
2025-11-19 11:00 - 12:00
Reduce stress, manage treatment side-effects, and aid cancer recovery through a unique evidence-based yoga method specifically for those diagnosed with cancer. Through movement, breathing, and mindfulness, this practice aims to provide benefits such as muscular strength, bone density, immune support, flexibility, and improved posture.
Led by Tish Caldwell, Dempsey Center’s Movement + Fitness Manager, Certified Oncology Yoga Instructor.
Open to Dempsey Center clients in active treatment or post-treatment and their primary care partner.
Please note that participants must be able to transition from floor to standing.

Stretch + Strengthen [Rock Row]
2025-11-19 12:30 - 13:15
Join us in-person for a 6-week progressive series that combines Pilates and Yoga principles to enhance core strength and stability to promote better balance. We will also focus on improving flexibility, muscular strength, endurance, posture, and alignment.
No experience required.
Led by Tish Caldwell, Dempsey Center’s Movement + Fitness Manager, Certified Oncology Yoga Instructor and Certified Pilates Instructor.
Open to Dempsey Center clients in active treatment or post-treatment and their primary care partner.
Please note that participants must be able to lay on their backs and transition from floor to standing.

Knitting Group [Rock Row]
2025-11-19 13:00 - 15:00
Join our group of survivor and care partner volunteers who gather to replenish our knitted and crocheted comfort item inventory, including such items as afghans (blankets), hats, and knitted knockers.

Led by Michelle Small.

Open to all adult Dempsey Center clients.

Do you prefer to volunteer knit or crochet from home? Please call Michelle Small at 207-376-9669 or email msmall@dempseycenter.org.

Knitting Group [Rock Row]
2025-11-19 13:00 - 15:00
Join our group of survivor and care partner volunteers who gather to replenish our knitted and crocheted comfort item inventory, including such items as pocketed wraps, hats, and knitted knockers.

Led by Michelle Small.
Open to all adult Dempsey Center clients.

Do you prefer to volunteer knit or crochet from home? Please call Michelle Small at 207-376-9669 or email msmall@dempseycenter.org.

Dempsey Dog Meet + Greet: Rudy [Rock Row]
2025-11-19 14:00 - 16:00
Therapy dogs can help to provide emotional support, alleviate stress, improve moods, and help boost confidence. We are proud to encourage the animal-human bond through our teams of Dempsey Dogs, trained and registered by Pet Partners.
Drop in and say “hi” to our Dempsey Dog Teams. No sign up needed!

Cooking for Health + Healing [Rock Row]
2025-11-19 14:30 - 16:30
Improve your skills in the kitchen and discover the role of food as it relates to overall health during and after cancer treatment. In this 4-week series, you will learn how food can be used to support health, regain strength, reduce your risk of cancer and other chronic illnesses, while discovering new ways to add nutrients to your diet. Each week, clients will participate in preparing recipes with assistance from our nutritionist.

Featured weekly topics include:

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Eating for a Healthy Heart
Carbohydrates and Fiber
Adding Color to Your Plate

Led by Judy Donnelly, RDN, CSO, LD, Nutrition Program Manager.

Open to all Dempsey Center Clients.
Participants are strongly urged to attend all sessions.
Registration closes August 26.
Please note that this class does require participation, which may include standing and moving about our demonstration kitchen. Sign up requires a telephone consult before attending.
Participants must bring their own containers to transport prepared food home.

Connect + Experience: Meal Kit Demonstration [Rock Row]
2025-11-19 15:00 - 16:30
Looking for ways to stretch your food dollars? Experience a community meal and cooking demonstration led by University of New England (UNE) graduate students. Learn how to turn a Meals for Maine pantry kit into a delicious, budget-friendly dish, connect with others impacted by cancer, and enjoy a late-afternoon tea together. Each participant will receive a meal kit to take home.

Led by Michelle Small, Trisha Mason – UNE Director of Service Learning, and UNE Graduate Students.

Open to the public.

Dempsey Doga with Rudy + Wayne [Rock Row]
2025-11-19 16:00 - 16:45
Join us for this kids’ yoga class featuring our Dempsey Dogs! Youth ages 5-12 are invited to join our Dempsey Dogs for a fun, active yoga experience – ’doga’! Meet other youth impacted by cancer and learn fun, dog-inspired, beginner yoga movements while bonding with our therapy dogs! All materials are provided, and participants will leave with a set of their very own Dempsey Doga cards.

Dempsey Dogs are trained and registered by Pet Partners. Therapy dogs can help to provide emotional support and alleviate stress, improve moods, and help kids to gain the strength and confidence to overcome challenges they might face. Add yoga to the mix with all its proven benefits and you have a ‘Doga’ class!

Led by Dempsey Dog Team Wayne + Rudy and Tish Caldwell, Dempsey Center’s Movement + Fitness Manager, Certified Oncology Yoga Instructor.

Open to Dempsey Center clients ages 5-12 and their families. A parent/guardian must remain in the building.

Online sign-up is not available for this workshop. To sign up, please e-mail registration@dempseycenter.org or call 207-336-7287.

Dempsey Dog Meet + Greet: Forest [Rock Row]
2025-11-20 10:30 - 12:00
