"I like it here because you get to share memories."
—Dan
News & EventsNewsletter Archive |
Newsletter Spring 2010From the DirectorThe year 2009 was one of growth and change for Mary’s Place. Last year we had a significant increase in the number of children and families attending our support groups. Nearly 130 children and adults took part in our programs over the course of the year. We were very fortunate to have several new volunteer facilitators participate in our training and begin facilitating our groups. This allowed us to continue to provide services to all families who came to us at this difficult time and turn none away. Last year we received a grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving that allowed us to offer a six-session pilot workshop on Understanding Children’s Grief. This workshop is being conducted by Molly Sexton-Read, one of our volunteers, and is offered to our parents/guardians to help them better understand and cope with their grieving children. Our hope is to continue to offer this workshop, as it enhances our mission of supporting grieving families. Margie Ross joined our staff as Outreach Coordinator in the fall. Margie is working in areas of fundraising and will soon join me in community outreach efforts, thereby increasing the awareness of Mary’s Place and educating individuals on children’s grief. With four part-time staff jockeying for time on one computer, it became very obvious last fall that our tiny office was no longer adequate. Once again, the generosity of the Carmon Family came to our rescue. Through the addition of two rooms at the front end of our building, we were able to move our library resource center and convert the old library space into a staff office. To help us furnish our office, Alstom Power kindly donated desks, tables and file cabinets. To help solve our computer problem, Mass Mutual donated four of their computers. All of this allows us to work much more efficiently in providing services, conducting fundraising activities and reaching out to the community. It is because of you, our donors and volunteers, that Mary’s Place continues to grow and offers a place of hope and healing for all who come here. Oprah Winfrey expressed this best: “In moments of desperation, fear and helplessness, each of us can be a rainbow of hope, doing what we can do to extend ourselves in kindness and grace to one another. And I know for sure that there is no them…there is only us.” Thank you all. Warmly, So many ways in which you have
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In this issueMary’s Place, Where Grieving Children Find SupportBy: Karen Ploch, Teen participant and Volunteer People often ask me, “Why do you go to Mary’s Place?” I suppose most people don’t understand just how much Mary’s Place helps grieving children and their families. It is not counseling or therapy; it’s a support group and a place where you are free to express yourself. My father passed after having a heart attack at about two o’clock in the morning on August 29, 2005. I was only twelve at the time and was there with my mother and brother when he passed. For many months I didn’t want to talk to anyone about it and was experiencing friend problems on top of the grief. Read more... SHIRLEY VALENTINE We are most grateful to Julia Kiley Ganci of the Dove Theater Company and her crew for her comical yet thought provoking performance of Shirley Valentine. The play was preformed as a benefit for Mary’s Place and given in memory of Julia’s sister-inlaw Rebecca Ganci. Second Annual
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