The Garden a Center for Grieving Children and Teens

Thank you for your generous support of The Garden!

 

ABOUT:

The Garden, founded in 1998, is a program of Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice providing support to grieving youth and their families following the death of someone close. There are no limits on when, where or how the death occurred.

Participating at The Garden helps reduce the loneliness and isolation that kids can feel when they are grieving. 

 

PHILOSOPHY:

Grief is a normal response to any change or loss. Each person grieves in their unique way and changes from moment to moment. Kids grieve just as much as adults.

At The Garden we don't make the death go away, but rather support each individual where they are at in the moment.

 

HOW WE DO IT?

Youth ages 5-18 participate in small groups with others their age in planned activities, projects and games intended to support their grief journey. Kids meet others and make new friends.

At the same time adult caregivers meet to discuss the challenges of raising a grieving child, while also grieving themselves. Occasional guest speakers share their expertise with participants, too.

Families can join in the fall and spring. There is no fee to participate.

 

WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD:

MB shares...I came to the Garden a couple of months after my sister suddenly died. I wanted a safe environment to explore my grief. I wanted to talk to people who knew what I was going through. I wanted to feel better.

I really enjoyed my time at The Garden. I learned a lot about myself and my grief. It was fun and really helpful. My life would be dramatically different if I never went to The Garden.

TD shares...We will always appreciate the help our family received from the Garden.

Volunteer SV shares...I especially enjoy the high school groups we work with at The Garden. My mother died when I was 16, so helping kids navigate their grief is like coming full circle.  

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Email Coordinator-- shelly_lenn@cooley-dickinson.org

Call us-- 413 582 5312

 

Again, Thank you for supporting our work with grieving young people! Stay in touch.