Mourning Hope Grief Center

"Death is a universal truth of life, and yet it is often the last thing we want to think about or discuss with others. In our home, we talk about death over dinner, hang homemade bird feeders on a tree by the neighborhood fire truck park to honor a loved one, and etch the names of the departed on rocks for the memory garden in our backyard."

Kerri Denell is a passionate and prolific storyteller. She uses her creative gifts to help people consider how they want to be remembered and how their legacies can be shared with future generations. Her unique path through the intricacies of death is rooted in key life experiences: the tragic drowning of a friend at age 14, accepting a position as a hospice social worker and that fateful day in 2016 when she attended Hope in the Morning for the first time.

Since discovering Mourning Hope's mission, Kerri has continued to ask, "What can I do?" She serves on the Wonder Women committee, helping orchestrate a yearly friend-raising campaign that provides necessary operating funds for Mourning Hope's programs. As a recent addition to our Board of Trustees, Kerri gets to share our story and advocate for the resources we provide. She recently had the honor of facilitating an 8-week high school support group:

"One of the students participating due to a peer's death requested to volunteer at Mourning Hope to help spread the support that he so greatly felt."

Kerri bears witness each day to the importance of telling our stories and offering companionship wherever we can. We are grateful to have Kerri as part of our story.



📖Hear more from Kerri at her upcoming book reading at Mourning Hope on August 21. Comment below for more info!

Camp Erin® Lincoln is almost here! Help us create an unforgettable weekend of healing by providing the snacks and supplies our campers need.

📦 Send supplies: https://a.co/c4Fw9nW
🍎 Send snacks: https://a.co/0EYN44r

Your generosity will help show these kids they're never alone on their grief journey. ☀

We heard through the grapevine that there's a special event coming up on November 9.

Save the date for our 3rd-annual Common Threads celebration. In collaboration with the International Quilt Museum, Common Threads is a joint fundraiser honoring the connectedness of our two nonprofits. All proceeds go towards sustaining and enhancing the youth programming at both organizations.

This year's theme, Speakeasy Soirée, will transport you back to the Roaring Twenties when the air was filled with sultry jazz and the clink of clandestine cocktails. Embrace the spirit of the era and don your finest period costume. Flapper dresses and sharp suits are encouraged!

Thank you to our generous sponsors, Union Bank & Trust and Ameritas.

Stay tuned for ticketing info and full details. It'll be the bee's knees.

💜 Happy ! 💜

Today we celebrate the members of this courageous crew who have committed to being a 2024 Wonder Woman! With over 180 dedicated individuals, we are almost halfway to our goal of assembling 400 everyday heroes who support our vision that no one has to grieve alone.

Will you join us?

https://www.mourninghope.org/supportus/ww.html

At Mourning Hope, we’re thrilled to have talented interns at our center! Currently, we have Bryce Marker, MSW at UNO, and Paige Hespe from the Counseling Psychology Doctoral program at UNL, contributing their expertise and passion to our mission.

As an approved internship and practicum site for several universities’ clinical graduate training programs, we’re committed to providing meaningful experiential learning opportunities for graduate students in counseling, social work and related fields. Working with the bereaved, our interns gain invaluable hands-on experience in a supportive environment.

Interested in joining our team and making a difference? Learn more and apply today at https://www.mourninghope.org/services/internships.html.

As the new school year kicks off, we're sending our warmest wishes for a healthy, supportive and successful year to all school administrators, teachers, social workers, counselors, professionals, parents, caregivers and students!

Mourning Hope is a proud partner of Lincoln Public Schools, and is here to support you with 8-week in-school grief support groups, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Interested in starting a group at your school? Reach out to Amy Lipins at [email protected].

🧘‍♀️Join us for Yoga in the Park on Friday, September 6 at 5:00 p.m.🧘

We will have FREE yoga provided by a local instructor on the Schroder Park Wellness Campus. All levels are welcome, so bring a mat or blanket and we will learn how to intentionally move our bodies. There will also be activities for children if they do not wish to participate.

We hope to see you there!

Who's joining us for a celebration of Kerri Denell's debut memoir? Mourning Hope is thrilled to host an evening of conversation and community on Wednesday, August 21, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

📖Please RSVP to Rachel at [email protected] or 531.500.2486.

Kerri has forged a unique path alongside the bereaved and those anticipating grief. She holds a Master's in Social Work and currently serves as an end-of-life doula to individuals and families as they explore legacy wishes, end-of-life planning and writing to create deeper meaning in their lives.

Kerri has devoted countless hours to Mourning Hope, serving on the Wonder Women committee, leading school support groups and much more. Her ability to craft stories and share vulnerability has always made her an extraordinary companion.

Thank you to everyone who attended Party in the Park last Saturday! It was great seeing so many faces from the community and connecting with local nonprofits. Everyone enjoyed free pizza provided by daVinci's and bananas from Hy-Vee. We played in the bounce house from Husker Bounce and cooled off with snow cones from Kona Ice of Lincoln. We also released bubbles to honor our special people who died. It was a hot day, but a lot of fun was had!

📸 .Eva.Media

We want to hear from you about what else we can provide at Schroder Park Wellness Campus. Please take this short survey and let us know your thoughts. See you on campus soon!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wKIDq664WNqrNz8YNEqUwyTP3Xb_Or--R910mhttdtQ/viewform?edit_requested=true

The Mourning Hope team (and Arthur the dog!) are thrilled to unveil our brand new organizational t-shirts and apparel!

A massive shout-out to the incomparable Julie Smith for spearheading this project, gifting us these fabulous threads, and delivering them during yesterday's staff meeting. You're the best, Julie!

Don't you all want to rock some MH gear around the community?

💜 We have an exciting update this ! 💜

Since launching our 2024 Wonder Women campaign, over 100 people have answered the call to support Mourning Hope and those we serve. Our thanks goes out to these extraordinary heroes!

Who are the powerful women in your life? Tag them below and visit our website to join this courageous community: https://www.mourninghope.org/supportus/ww.html

Providing compassionate bereavement resources to our community for the past 30 years is a tremendous achievement. And not many can say that they've been part of it since the beginning. That is why today's feature is so remarkable.

Sue Kittinger has been involved with Mourning Hope as a board member and volunteer for the past 29 years! She shows up enthusiastically to every milestone and offers so much encouragement along the way. We are especially grateful for Sue's keen administrative and bookkeeping support. Her varied talents make her an incredible helper for staff and participants alike.

"I love to help sew on pillow nights when the kids share their stories and reasons for bringing the fabrics and clothing items that we turn into keepsakes. One little fella brought his daddy's favorite Packers sweatshirt and we traced around the logo to make it the shape of a football. Once he stuffed it and we stitched it closed, he hugged it and tossed it up in the air. It still brings tears to my eyes."

We love your heart for helping, Sue. Know that we could not do it without you or the others who hold us up each and every day.

With the new school year just around the corner, remember that many students are navigating difficult changes and challenges. In all of the bustle of the year’s start, one group that can easily be overlooked is students who are grieving the loss of a parent, sibling or other close family member or friend. Let’s support our students during
times of transition and grief.

Check out some sneak peek photos from yesterday's fun Party in the Park.

Keep an eye out here for more exciting pics rolling in later this week.

A massive shout-out and heartfelt thanks to all our amazing community partners for making the day a smashing success!

🫧Reminder!🫧

Party in the Park is TODAY from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Stop by the Mourning Hope station at Schroder Park and write your message for the bubble launch at 11:30 a.m. Watch your message dissolve into the bubble solution and then send it out into the universe. We hope to see many of our current and past participants for this special activity honoring the memories we have with our people.

See you at the pavilion in Schroder Park!

School districts have the opportunity to create structures, policies, cultures and norms that promote grief-sensitive environments. These environments recognize the vulnerabilities of grieving students and strive to reduce adverse reactions while enhancing safety as a foundation for learning.

As school administrators prepare for the new academic year, the NACG National Alliance for Children's Grief offers this resource guide for administrators, providing valuable and supportive information about grief.

https://indd.adobe.com/view/0382cfc3-effb-4a02-b659-6c7fedff80ce

"I don't know where you will be tomorrow, but it will be magical."
💜💛🧡

In 2014, a courageous group of women organized a one-of-a-kind "friend-raiser" to build awareness for Mourning Hope. Ten years later, the Wonder Women still gather annually to help further our vision that no one has to grieve alone.

And this team of extraordinary heroes continues to grow! This year, we're looking for 400 friends to join the Wonder Women community. You can be part of this elite team that has provided over $200,000 in operating funds over the decade, ensuring that Mourning Hope's programs and services remain free of cost to our participants.

Learn more by visiting our website: https://www.mourninghope.org/supportus/ww.html

Popsicle Pop Up happening tonight at Schroder Park! Come enjoy a cool treat (while supplies last) and share your ideas for the Schroder Park Wellness Campus!

TONIGHT our Campus Outreach Coordinator, Hannah Davis will be handing out popsicles in the park while supplies last! She will be at the picnic tables under the park shelter from 6PM - 7PM, so be sure to stop by and grab a treat!

Mourning Hope Grief Center
Willard Community Center

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Grief support groups and counseling can help you learn to carry grief. Mourning Hope is here whenever you need support: https://www.mourninghope.org/findsupport.html.

Register now to attend the early fall session of our Family Grief Support Group. 💛💜

Family Group is designed for youth ages 4 to 18 and their adult caregivers who have experienced the death of a significant person. We provide a safe space to process feelings while connecting with others who have experienced similar losses. This group meets once a week for 10 weeks beginning Tuesday, September 3. There is no cost to participate, but families must register in advance.

For more details, or to sign up, visit: https://www.mourninghope.org/programs/family.html

We are proud to partner with the Woods Charitable Fund, Inc. and are so grateful for the many ways they support Mourning Hope.

Mourning Hope Grief Center was awarded a $10,000 WCF general-operating grant this May for continued support of the agency's work to provide support for grieving children, families and adults. For more information visit mourninghope.org.

This one goes out to Laura Krafka, past board president and all-around helper. She's the first person to raise her hand and offer whatever she can to the staff, volunteers and participants at Mourning Hope.

"The participants who come to Mourning Hope are so brave and willing to share their stories and let others be a part of their grief journey. To be able to provide even a small bit of support to these incredible humans is the greatest gift."

Laura has graced us with her own gifts of leadership and kindness for the past six years. She has seen us through major transitions, including the construction of our new facility. "The building was built like a home and every single thing that went into it was thought out as to how it could best support grieving hearts. From the quiet room to the time machine, every person can find a place that supports them on their journey."

We join together in thanking Laura for her tireless service to Mourning Hope. May your next adventure be as momentous as the impact you have had on us all.

The Lincoln Fresh Truck is on our campus today from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. We're excited to see you there!

Schroder Park Wellness Campus

The creativity was overflowing on Saturday! Thank you to those who joined us for our final "Art From Our Heart" of the summer.

Mark your calendars for a special event celebrating the recent book launch of Mourning Hope friend and champion, Kerri Denell.

Wednesday, August 21
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mourning Hope
Conversation beginning at 5:30 p.m.

"Invited to More: Letters for Life – Love, Kerri" is an authentic memoir that traces Kerri’s 100-day journey to deeper vulnerability, union with God, and connection to others. In this powerful debut memoir, Kerri lovingly invites us to examine our everyday lives, to look at the things and people around us and be changed.

Join us for light refreshments and a deeper look into Kerri's journey through this project. We are thrilled to help share Kerri's spark with our community.

📖Please RSVP to Rachel: [email protected] or 531.500.2486

🫧All past and present Mourning Hope participants are invited to reunite for a memorial bubble launch on Saturday, August 3 outside Mourning Hope.🫧

Participants can write messages that will dissolve into the bubble solution so that when released, those messages will float into the universe. Imagine a balloon launch, but eco-friendly!

This event coincides with Schroder Park Wellness Campus's annual "Party in the Park" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free community event is open to all and includes activities for children and families, healthy resources and community connection. Stop by the Mourning Hope table in Schroder Park to create your memorial messages in time for the group bubble release scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

You've heard about Party in the Park on August 3rd, but do you know about the Schroder Park Wellness Campus? It's a collaboration between the Mourning Hope Grief Center, Willard Community Center, Lutheran Family Services, Lincoln Parks & Recreation, Community Crops and Community Health Endowment of Lincoln to activate community connections to enhance the holistic well-being of the neighborhood.

In June, Hannah Davis was hired as the Campus Outreach Coordinator to organize events and activities like Party in the Park, Yoga in the Park, Music in the Park, Trunk or Treat and so much more! If you live in the West A neighborhood we would love to hear more about what you want to see and how we can cultivate connectedness. You can email Hannah ([email protected]) with any questions or suggestions.

We hope to see you at Schroder Park Wellness Campus very soon!