GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A perinatal grief support group is now meeting montly at Gilda's Club in Grand Rapids.
It is for families who are experiencing the loss of a child. Dinner is provided for those who attend the sessions, which start at 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. As part of its services, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids provides childcare and the meals to help reduce barriers and stress for parents.
Gilda's Club Grand Rapids is at 1806 Bridge Street, east of Covell Avenue.
Here are more details provided in a Gilda's Club/Seyferth P.R. news release:
The new support group is made possible by a Grief and Bereavement grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids has been serving the West Michigan community for over 20 years, offering grief support groups for children, teens and parents. However, a specific group for fetal infant mortality did not exist previously,” said Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids President Wendy Wigger. “Right now, in the Grand Rapids/Kent County region, in-person grief support groups for pregnancy and infant loss facilitated by a licensed mental health professional might be hard to come by. We are thankful for MDHHS’ financial support and understanding the importance of our services – to ensure the entire family can engage and navigate through their grief.”
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, Hospice of Michigan and Corewell Health respectively identified a need for perinatal grief support in West Michigan. As part of its services, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids provides childcare and meals for support group participants to help reduce barriers and stress for parents.
“By providing a meal and childcare, we want to help reduce the stress of ‘one more thing’ during an already stressful time,” said Wigger. “We hope our new perinatal grief support group will meet the specific bereavement need in our community and be a place where people who are experiencing similar grief situations can find healing and connection.”
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About Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
Gilda's Club Grand Rapids provides free emotional healthcare to children, adults, families and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death of someone in their life due to any cause. Its comprehensive program, delivered by licensed mental health professionals, meets individuals where they are, when they need it, with a variety of social and emotional support options to choose from, including support groups, educational opportunities as well as healthy lifestyle and social activities.
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids runs entirely on charitable donations and currently provides in-person, virtual and hybrid support options through its clubhouses in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Mich., and community programs in various schools and community centers. An affiliate of the Cancer Support Community - the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is independently owned and locally operated. At Gilda’s Club no one has to navigate cancer or grief on their own. For more information, visit gildasclubgr.org.