Programs
Real Support for Families Facing ALS
ALS changes daily life in ways most people never expect. It affects individuals, caregivers, children, friendships, routines, finances, and emotional well-being simultaneously. No family should have to navigate that journey feeling isolated or overwhelmed.
At Touched By ALS, our programs are centered around people, not paperwork. We walk alongside families across Upstate South Carolina through practical support, meaningful connection, community outreach, and compassionate care during some of life’s hardest seasons. Whether someone has just received a diagnosis or has been living with ALS for years, we want families to know there is a community here that sees them, supports them, and stays present.
Support That Feels Personal
The support of family and friends plays a crucial role in the quality of life of people living with ALS. Spouses, partners, parents, children, and close friends often find themselves stepping into caregiving roles while navigating the emotional, physical, and financial realities that come with the disease. Living with and supporting someone with ALS is a deeply personal and life-altering journey. It can bring uncertainty, exhaustion, grief, resilience, and moments of unexpected connection all at once. No family should have to navigate those challenges alone.
Touched By ALS exists to help families find practical support, compassionate community, and trusted guidance during difficult seasons. Whether someone is newly diagnosed or has been living with ALS for years, we work to help individuals and caregivers feel more supported, informed, and connected. We can help point families toward helpful resources, offer encouragement and community connection, and assist with some of the everyday challenges and costs that often come with living with ALS.
Programs Designed Around Real Family Needs
Touched By ALS provides direct, needs-based support through programs designed to meet families at different stages of need. Some families may need emotional support and community connection. Others may need help navigating caregiving responsibilities, accessing resources, managing financial strain, or finding practical day-to-day assistance. Our programs are built around one simple belief: support should feel human, accessible, and rooted in community care.
- Family Sponsorship Program
- In-Home Assistance Program
- Emergency and Needs-Based Financial Assistance
- Life Sustaining Generator Loan Program
The Family Sponsorship Program provides ongoing, relational support to ALS families facing long-term and evolving needs. Through this program, Touched By ALS partners with a family to help cover essential household and care-related expenses, offering stability, dignity, and peace of mind during an incredibly difficult journey.
Application & Review Process
Sustainability
The Family Sponsorship Program is supported through:
Caring for a loved one with ALS is physically and emotionally demanding. This program helps families access professional in-home care when additional support is needed by providing $5,000 direct grants to families affected by ALS to help cover the cost of in-home care services. The program is designed to ease caregiver burden, promote patient safety, and allow individuals living with ALS to remain in their homes with dignity.
Application & Review Process
Sustainability
The In-Home Assistance Program is funded through:
Life with ALS is unpredictable. This program provides one-time emergency assistance when families face urgent or unexpected expenses. This program is designed to respond quickly when families experience a financial crisis that threatens patient safety, stability, or continuity of care.
Application & Review Process
Sustainability
The Emergency and Needs-Based Financial Assistance is supported through:
Access to reliable power and specialized equipment can be life-sustaining for individuals living with ALS. The Life-Sustaining Generator Loan Program provides Ryobi generators to individuals with ALS who rely on ventilators or other life-sustaining medical equipment requiring electricity. Through a partnership with Ryobi, generators are loaned to families during periods of medical necessity and retrieved once no longer needed, ensuring resources are recycled and available for future families.
Application & Review Process
Sustainability
The program is supported through:
Connection, Encouragement,
and Everyday Support
Living with ALS can feel overwhelming, especially for families adjusting to new realities and caregiving responsibilities. Our support services are designed to provide compassionate connection and practical guidance through every stage of the journey.
We understand that no two families experience ALS the same way. Some may need emotional support and a sense of community. Others may need help locating local resources, navigating daily challenges, or simply finding people who understand what they are going through. Touched By ALS works to create spaces where individuals and caregivers feel welcomed, heard, and supported without judgment.
Support Services May Include:
Need support or have questions?
We are here to help connect families with care, community, and resources.
Small Acts of Support Create Lasting Impact
Meaningful support does not always come in the form of large gestures. Often, it comes through consistent care, community relationships, and people showing up for one another during difficult moments. Touched By ALS believes strong communities are built through compassion, dignity, and shared responsibility. Every program, outreach effort, volunteer hour, and act of support helps create a more connected and caring environment for families facing ALS across the Upstate.
Whether you are seeking support, looking for ways to help, or simply wanting to learn more about ALS, there is a place for you in this community. Together, we can continue building practical support, meaningful relationships, and compassionate care for individuals and families facing ALS throughout Upstate South Carolina.
