“A lot of people think the best way to deal with grief is to ignore it — to “get over it” as fast as possible and just “move on,” Mourning Hope Center’s Grief Education Director Amy Lipins said. “But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Grief isn’t something to fix or push aside; it’s something we have to feel, move through, and lean into. I love how Earl Grollman puts it:  “Grief is not a disorder, a disease, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical, and spiritual necessity — the price we pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.”

One of the things the center does to help meet grief head-on is to greet every child with a comforting stuffed animal.

“When kids come to our center or our camp, they’re often nervous and unsure about what to expect,” Lipins continued. “They’re going through one of the hardest things they’ve ever faced. That’s why we greet every child with a comforting stuffed animal — a small but meaningful way to help them feel welcome, give them something to hold onto, and remind them that they belong here.”