Friendship, Understanding, and Hope.
Supporting Family After a Child Dies
"...that their light may always shine."
Worldwide Candle Lighting®
Join Us December 8, 2013
36th National
Conference
July 5-7, 2013 | Boston, MA
Walk to Remember
July 7, 2013 | Boston, MA
Write Message to Families in Newtown, CT.
Please feel free to write a message to the Newtown, Connecticut families. This Newtown Remembrance Book of Love will be hand delivered and presented to Newtown as a way of expressing the loving concern of The Compassionate Friends, and our great and caring world.
Our thoughts remain with the residents of Newtown, Connecticut and most
especially the families of the victims of the December 14 shooting at
Sandy Hook Elementary School. We are currently in the process of shipping what will ultimately total 20,000 or more "Forever
in My Heart" TCF wristbands to Newtown to be given to all students,
family, teachers--and the town itself. On December 19, 2012 a special edition webinar was presented: The Nation Mourns and Together We Heal - The recent tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut has our nation collectively mourning. Many of us who have lost a child, sibling, or grandchild have found old wounds suddenly reopened. TCF Executive Director, Pat Loder was joined by Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley from the Open to Hope Foundation to discuss grief triggers and how to talk with children in the wake of this tragedy. View here.
Grief Support After the Death of a Child
"The Compassionate Friends is about transforming the pain of grief into the elixir of hope. It takes people out of the isolation society imposes on the bereaved and lets them express their grief naturally. With the shedding of tears, healing comes. And the newly bereaved get to see people who have survived and are learning to live and love again."
–Simon Stephens, founder of The Compassionate Friends
The words of TCF's Founder, Simon Stephens resonate with those who have come to The Compassionate Friends hoping to find a purpose in a life that suddenly seems so empty.
Whether your family has had a child die (at any age from any cause) or you are trying to help those who have gone through this life altering experience, The Compassionate Friends exists to provide friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the natural grieving process.
Through a network of more than 650 chapters with locations in all 50 states, as well as Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam, The Compassionate Friends has been supporting bereaved families after the death of a child for four decades.
The National Office and its staff also provide many levels of support to our chapters, as well as individual responses to those who call on the phone, contact us through our website, or send an e-mail that simply says, "My child has died. Help me!" We will be here as long as you need us. That is our commitment to you.
Time has proven that in caring and sharing comes healing. We welcome you to The Compassionate Friends