Community Grief Support

For our hospice families as well as for anyone in the community, we provide community grief support for adults, teens and children who have lost a loved one or someone close to them.

BJC Hospice offers grief camps, retreats and support groups, at no cost to the participant, due to the generous donations from the community and the support of volunteers.

Please share this information with anyone in the community who might benefit from attending one of our programs or who might be able to support us through a donation.

Our grief support camps, retreats and groups include:

• Stepping Stones, a weekend grief camp for children ages 6-15 who have experienced the death of a family member or friend. Stepping Stones offers a place for children to honor their loved one in an atmosphere of understanding and encouragement.
• Weavings, a weekend retreat for mothers who have experienced the death of a child at any age. Weavings honors their forever motherhood while creating a community of support.
• General Grief Support Groups, support groups that provide a safe, comforting environment to process grief and learn ways to cope. A support group can often be a doorway to hope, even when hope seems unimaginable at first.

Volunteers

We are always looking for volunteers for our Stepping Stones camp and Weavings retreat.

Stepping Stones

• Cabin buddies
• Activity volunteers
• Set up crew

Weavings

We are always looking for people who could perform the following services to our mothers in an effort to care for and pamper them during the weekend:

• Massage therapy
• Reiki or Healing Touch
• Yoga Nidra
• Tibetan Singing Bowls
• Manicures/ Pedicures
• Facials
• Acupuncture

If anyone is willing and available to share their gifts and talents with bereaved mothers, we would greatly appreciate their generous offerings. Call 314.953.1676 or email BJC Hospice if you have questions or if you are interested in volunteering.

Donations

Any donation, large or small, is very helpful for all of our grief support programs.

rief camp and retreat supply wish list:

• Paint pens
• Fabric markers
• Sharpies (black and colors)
• Acrylic paints (any regular, pearl, or metallic color)
• Individual Kleenex packs
• Flashlights with batteries
• Glo-necklaces or bracelets
• Glass pieces to use when making stepping stones
• Tulip brand tie-dye powder refills
• Jewelry making tools and supplies

If you would like to donate any of these items, email us or call 314.953.1676.

Groups and Businesses

If you, your group, or your business/organization would like to donate a certain product, make something for us, or work on a project with us, please let us know. Some past examples of ways people have helped include:

• Individuals and groups have provided help in the office with some preparation and organization of supplies for projects before camp or one of the retreats (painting boxes, making copies, cutting and pasting, etc.)
• Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops have made memory wooden boxes for our teen retreat and retreat for mothers
• Retailers and individuals have donated items such as chocolates, candles, natural soaps, scarves, etc. to be added to self-care baskets that each mother receives at our Weavings retreat

For more information, call 314.953.1676 or email us.