NEWS RELEASE
NIGHTINGALE CENTRE
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The Nightingale Centre for Grieving Children, Youth and Families, a nonprofit organization helping young people and families grieve the loss of a loved one, is involving the local community and participating in Children’s Grief Awareness Month and Children’s Grief Awareness Day this year — with numerous initiatives to give grieving children a voice and raise awareness of the painful impact that the death of a loved one has on the life of a child.
Recognized annually, the third Thursday in November is Children’s Grief Awareness Day, a day designed to bring attention to the unique needs of grieving children and the benefits they receive through the support of others. This year, the observance falls on Thursday, Nov. 21.
Throughout the month of November in honour of Children’s Grief Awareness Month, The Nightingale Centre is committed to spreading awareness around children’s grief through their Be The Hope campaign, including the following initiatives:
- Partnering with the Downtown Guelph Business Association (DGBA) and over 35 local businesses to spread awareness and Light The Town Blue (blue symbolizes children’s grief) throughout the month. On Children’s Grief Awareness Day (Nov. 21), Guelph City Hall and buildings that are part of the Illuminate Downtown Guelph initiative will be lit blue to show support.
- Partnering with Market Fresh Guelph to raise funds from Nov. 15-24. All shoppers at Market Fresh will have the opportunity to make a donation to The Nightingale Centre with their purchase during this 10-day period. Similarly, businesses like Milk & Co. Gourmet Cookies and Sunday Blooms are selling limited-edition products on Children’s Grief Awareness Day, with 100 per cent of sales proceeds being donated to Nightingale.
- The set up of an art display at the Guelph Public Library Main branch, composed of tributes made by grieving children, youth and families in the Guelph-Wellington community. The art installation will be on display all month long, showcasing the voices of grieving children in the community and spreading awareness around children’s grief.
- The Nightingale Centre is fundraising to help ensure that no child or family in Guelph-Wellington grieves alone. The Centre’s essential grief support programs and services are offered at no cost to families thanks to the generous support of partners and donors. Financial contributions made during the month of November will help provide much-needed support to children and youth, bringing them hope and healing during one of the most challenging times in their lives.
- On Thursday, Nov. 21, Children’s Grief Awareness Day, The Nightingale Centre is encouraging community members to wear blue, have a conversation with someone about children’s grief, share important information, or contact someone they know who may be grieving and check in on them.
“This month especially, we are looking to our community to join us in advocating and raising awareness about the needs of grieving children, teens, and their families. Reach out to anyone you know who is grieving and tell them about The Nightingale Centre. Let them know we are here for them and they are not alone. Give them a voice and let them know you hear them,” says Jodi Pereira, Executive Director of The Nightingale Centre.
1 in 14 children in Canada will lose a parent or sibling by the time they turn 18. This statistic equates to almost 4,000 children in Guelph-Wellington who will live with this experience, and their grief will have a profound and lifelong impact.
The Nightingale Centre’s critical grief support programs and services are 100 per cent reliant on community donations.
For more information on Nightingale’s Be The Hope campaign and to make a contribution, visit: https://nightingalecentre.org/donate/be-the-hope/. For more information and to register for Nightingale services, visit: www.nightingalecentre.org.
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