DARKE COUNTY – As part of EverHeart Hospice’s weekly grief support group meeting in April, members and facilitators brought food and drinks that reminded them of their loved ones. They ate and shared stories of the past, hopes for the future, and gratitude for their eight weeks together.
Caitlyn Bowling, Bereavement Coordinator with EverHeart Hospice, shared that she
received all sorts of feedback from members who attended either the Greenville or
Coldwater meetings, describing how “this support group was more help than I thought it
would be,” as well as how it was so “worthwhile to attend.” During group meetings
members surround themselves with other individuals who have experienced a
significant loss, leading another member to share that “You feel relief because other
people are in the same boat as you.”
The idea of attending a support group can be incredibly daunting, but it is also
something that has made a huge impact on the lives of those who have attended. It can
be a very rewarding experience, helping those in our community feel a little less alone in
their grief. The one piece of consistent feedback we receive the most as an organization
following the end of these grief support groups is how group members were hesitant at
first to join but were so glad they did.
Our eight-week support groups will be returning in September to Greenville and
Coldwater. Our group in Greenville will be every Wednesday from September 11th
to October 30th, from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm, in Community Room #2 by the Harrison
Street Entrance of Wayne HealthCare.
Our group in Coldwater will be every Thursday from September 12th to October
31st, from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm in the Luken Room at Mercer Health. If anyone is
interested in attending either group, we ask that they RSVP before the first
meeting by calling (937) 316-0005.
There are also other opportunities for grief support services in both Darke and Mercer
counties beyond our eight-week program. This includes our monthly evening groups in
Greenville is held on the first Wednesday of each month and will also be starting in
Coldwater in October on the last Thursday of each month (10/31). These groups do not
require an RSVP and are in a more casual setting.
In the meantime, if you need additional grief support outside our available groups, we
encourage you to contact our Bereavement team at
[email protected] or call (937) 316-0005. As always, EverHeart
Hospice provides all bereavement support, groups, and events at no cost thanks to
contributions and grants received in the communities we serve.
Thank you again to those who have participated in our grief support groups thus far! We
cannot wait to see what the future holds as we continue expanding our Bereavement
Program and provide support to those in our service area.
