When it comes to dealing with grief, it can be a challenge to find the resources we need to educate ourselves and our loved ones on what is happening and how to best keep going forward. Having been down this road, we want to give back. We want to reach out to those who are earlier on this road. We cannot make your pain go away, nor can we provide answers for you. What we can do is help you to find the tools that you need to work through your grief journey. Thus was born The Grief Toolbox. The Grief Toolbox is an ambitious project. Its goal is to be an all-encompassing place for grief tools: a singular area where a person can find all the resources they need to help them with that grief that neither time nor money can solve. We here at the Grief Toolbox understand that needs change as we go from the raw encompassing pain of the first year to the stark reality of the second year, and then to the growth and reinventing ourselves of the middle years to the acceptance and blessing that now coexists with the pain and love that will always be a part of our life. Grief, in our opinion, falls into two categories: grief that can be solved with time or money, and grief that can not be solved. If you leave your favorite coat on a plane, with time and money you can replace it and the grief will slowly fade. However, with the loss of a loved one - whether a spouse, a parent, a child or a sibling - no time and no amount of money will make this grief go away. (Read More...)
Baby’s Breath is Canada’s only national organization focused on sudden unexpected infant & childhood deaths, including SIDS, SUDC and stillbirth. Baby’s Breath provides support for families faced with the traffic loss of an infant or young child. They advocate for the needs of these families, as well as for the need for more research into the causes of these deaths. They educate the public on how to reduce their infant’s exposure to risks. The death of an infant is a devastating event not only for the parents, but for the entire family. Siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends are all affected by the sudden death of a baby. Baby’s Breath believes no one should endure the grief of such loss alone. They are there to help. (Read More...)
Peter’s Place is a center for grieving children and families located in Radnor, PA. At our center, we offer age-appropriate peer support groups for children ages 4–17. While the children meet, their parents and caregivers have an opportunity to participate in their own peer support group. Additionally, Peter’s Place offers a group for young adults, ages 18-25, and a specialized peer support group called Ryan’s Hope, which is for parents who have experienced the death of a child as a result of addiction. (Read More...)
Wings-a Grief Education Ministry is a 501 c-3, non-profit, charitable organization founded by Nan & Gary Zastrow in 1993 with the express purpose of helping others understand the impact of loss/grief in one’s life. The organization supports and educates by listening, teaching, and sharing grief experiences that honor the past and rebuild the future. It offers workshops, seminars, support/education groups, and articles to heal the pain of loss. Current information is posted at their website. (Read More...)
String of Pearls was created to provide a nurturing and safe place for families as they navigate the path following a fatal prenatal diagnosis that will result in the death of their baby prior to, or shortly after birth. The path between grief and hope is a difficult place to walk; our desire is to provide guidance, compassion and practical suggestions as plans to honor the life of pre-born babies are crafted. Each life has a story worth telling, and we are here for support as stories are lovingly written. (Read More...)
The National Widowers’ Organization educates the public about the special needs of men who have lost their spouse or life partner. We do this by promoting the development of support groups for men to manage their grief and adjust to a new life and by advocating for research into mens unique needs to deal with grief and spousal loss. Our vision is to make appropriate groups available nationwide to all widowers that seek support. (Read More...)
Erin’s House provides grief support to children, teens, and their families who have experienced a death of a loved one. Our peer-support program nights offer grieving children and teens the opportunity to be surrounded by others also suffering the death of a loved one, helping them feel a sense of belonging and respect. The bi-monthly peer-support groups are available to ages 3-30, and are no cost to the individuals. Erin’s House is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For more information, call 260-423-2466 or visit www.ErinsHouse.org. (Read More...)
HealGrief, a nonprofit, is a social support network for people who are grieving, bereaved or for those just wanting to help them. By taking a modern approach to the way individuals communicate a loved one’s death, HealGrief brings family, friends and communities from around the globe to a virtual place to grieve and heal together. Everything they do is inspired by their core mission: guiding one’s journey with grief into a healthy grief recovery. From the moment a loved one dies, HealGrief.org guides individuals through grief’s journey. They begin by taking the place of the traditional obituary. At no cost, users create a funeral notice and can choose to disseminate it to family and friends around the globe. From within the funeral notice, virtual candles are lit and memories are shared. Cathartic to users, this provides instant comfort as the funeral notice transitions into a celebration of the decedent’s life. This online interaction, changes the way we handle grief, but ultimately provides comfort as one journeys to a healthy grief recovery. Additional no-fee programs include a virtual: Candle Gallery - Individuals can light and share a virtual candle in memory of their loved one; Before I Die…wall - A virtual wall provoking thoughts about living life, to its fullest, every day. Loss Project & Artful Healing - Inspiring healing through art. PetsCountToo! - Providing tools to guide a child’s first experience with death into a healthy grief recovery. (Read More...)
The mission of Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support is to serve those whose lives are touched by the tragic death of a baby through pregnancy loss, stillbirth or in the first few months of life. The work of Share and its supporters often goes unnoticed until tragedy occurs. At Share, bereaved parents find comfort in friendship, strength in shared experiences and hope for healing and happiness. Share, which has more than 75 groups across the country, strives to support every family that is put into these tragic circumstances by hosting support group meetings, by providing online support through Facebook, and by distributing bereavement resources and information. The national office also offers bereavement education and training to professionals, clergy and funeral directors throughout the United States. Share has been offering support to families since 1977. The National Office is headquartered in St. Charles, MO. For more information about Share, please call the National Share Office at 636-947-6164 or visit www.nationalshare.org. (Read More...)
The Compassionate Friends is a self-help support organization that provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family. Each chapter, along with the supporting National Office, is committed to helping every bereaved parent, sibling, or grandparent who may walk through our doors or contact us. TCF has over 600 chapters serving all 50 states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam, that offer friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, siblings, grandparents, and other family members during the natural grieving process after a child has died. Around the world more than 30 countries have a Compassionate Friends presence, encircling the globe with support so desperately needed when the worst has happened. To find a local chapter: www.compassionatefriends.org/find-support/chapters/chapter-locator/ (Read More...)