Members
of the “Hero Club,” were recently recognized with a plaque and
champagne reception at the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center in Augusta. Each
members of the club made a donation of $3,000 which will permanently fund the
Children’s Art Bereavement Program. The money will go into an enduring
endowment for the purpose of endowing scholarships to the program for children
whose families would not otherwise be able to afford the $100 fee.
The program
helps children deal with grief after the loss of a loved one. “One in 20
children suffers the loss of a close family member by the age 18,” said
John Quinlan, director of foundation at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.
The art
program, for children ages 6-12, helps them deal with the loss through artistic
expression. It meets for two hours one night a week for four weeks, using art
to help the children get in touch with their feelings. Parents must participate
as well in a simultaneous group. This group is intended to be educational and
supportive in nature.
The program meets at the Joseph T.
Quinlan Bereavement Center on Plains Road in Frankford. The next session will
start on Tuesday, July 9, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. and will continue on Tuesdays
throughout the month ending on Tuesday, July 30. The theme of the program is
the jungle.
About 30 children a year go through
the program, which is held in the Spring, Summer and Fall, and about half of
those cannot afford the cost, which the foundation has been paying as a
scholarship, which creates a budget shortfall, Quinlan said.
Members recognized at the reception
include: The Family of Ronald and Mary Ellen Donner, The Families of Norman and
Deirdre Worth and Michael and Margie Maneri, The Dietz Family, Kiwanis Club of
Sparta, Heather and Peter Ronco in Honor of Ellen V. Nowicki, Parishioners of
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church – Sparta, John and Peggy Post, Gregory and Jackie
Buckalew, The Friends of Hospice, “Thank You Mom” Foundation, The
Families of Joseph and Julia Quinlan, Paul and Maria Armstrong and Frederic and
Karen DiMaria.
Ten
children are enrolled in each bereavement program class session. These programs
have been offered for more than fifteen years. They were created in order to
address the unmet needs of grieving children, who are frequently known as the
“forgotten mourners.”
“From
a developmental perspective, young children lack the verbal capacity to express
their grief, often leading to internalized emotions, which in turn can lead to
somatic symptoms,” said Diana Sebzda, MA, LCP, FT, director of
bereavement.
“Since
its inception, the program has provided an expressive outlet for bereaved
children to get their “inside feelings out,” convey their emotions, process
their feelings of grief and learn coping strategies to help in,” said
Sebzda.
“The
generosity of the members of the ‘Hero Club,’ means that we will always be able
to offer this program to the community. The help and support we can provide to
these children can change their lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you,”
said Sebzda.
Anyone
families interested in registering for the upcoming Children’s Art Bereavement
Session can do so online at karenannquinlanhospice.org/CAT or by calling the
Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center directly at 973-948-2283. Individual and
family counseling is also available to anyone in the community suffering the
loss of a loved one. The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center is funded
entirely from donations.
