Grief and loss are life experiences we all share,
ALL of us—including children.
Kids need support during the grieving process, and sometimes the love of family isn’t enough to forge a bridge between sorrow and hope, especially when family members are struggling with their own sense of loss.
Photo by ThePixelMan via Pixabay
The value of “external” grief support wasn’t something I’d given much thought to until I happened upon an organization called the National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC).
Now, I can’t stop thinking about what a wonderful service they provide, so I had to share it with you.
Photo by Mojpe via Pixabay
The mission of NAGC is to “promote awareness of the needs of children and teens grieving a death and provide education and resources for anyone who wants to support them.”
They provide a directory of grief support providers who serve children, teens and their families nationwide. The services that caught my attention, in particular, are the many Bereavement Camps that offer kids a chance to get outdoors and get active with other kids who have endured the death of a loved one.
I’ve always believed that good work, fresh air, and friendship are the BEST therapies for healing the heart.
Photo by AdinaVoicu via Pixabay
One glowing example of a Bereavement Camp is The Moyer Foundation’s Camp Erin, the largest national bereavement program for youth grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. With numerous locations throughout North America, Camp Erin offers children and teens (ages 6 to 17) the opportunity to attend a transformational weekend camp that combines traditional, fun camp activities with grief education and emotional support, free of charge for all families. Camp weekends are led by grief professionals and trained volunteers who help kids recover hope, build self-esteem, and learn that they are not alone.
Photo by Pezibear via Pixabay
Certainly, there is no nobler mission.
Here’s how you can get in touch or lend a hand:
NAGC Bereavement Camp Directory
What Do We Tell Children? (Resources for Grief Support)
The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 6,962 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—9,905 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! ~MaryJane
Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …
For this week’s Farm Kitchen/Food Allergy Awareness Beginner Level Merit Badge, I researched a common malady (at least these days, it seems to be) amongst the population: food allergies.
Being blessed with the constitution of a horse with a cast-iron stomach lining myself (I hate to brag, but ya know it’s true), I was appalled at my findings, and at what these poor men, women, and children go through just to … to eat.
Photo by Jameson Fink via Flickr
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Cyrie Wilson!!!
Cyrie Wilson (#6941) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner Level Knitting Merit Badge!
“I know how to do a basic knit with knitting needles, but I have problems with my hands and can’t use them anymore. Instead, I use a fine-gauged loom.
I finished a pair of socks (the pink ones). I used a basic knit and pearl stitch. They took about 3 days. I’m allergic to wool, so I found a good stretchy synthetic fiber.
It’s a lot easier for me to use a loom than the needles. It took me a long time to knit a sock that fits my foot. It’s not easy to be a size 11!”
If you love needlework, most likely, you’ve knitted or crocheted a gift for a loved one. Potholders, shawls, throws, even sweaters.
But maybe you really, REALLY love needlework and have always longed for an even bigger project. Well, sisters, I’ve got one for you … dare we call them car cozies?
photo, blooger.com
photo, carmagzonline.biz
photo, blogger.com
photo, yarndoodler.com
or how about a bike cozy?
photo, mentalfloss.com
or even a bus cozy?
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
