Grief Camp During the Time of Corona

By Alex Treitler, Children’s Grief Connection

Yes, there will be grief camp this fall! Saturday, November 7, Children’s Grief Connection will be gathering families grieving the death of a significant friend or family member for our fall Hearts of Hope Family Grief Camp. With the generous support of MFDA, it’s what we’ve been doing for almost 20 years. But this year will be different, very different At 9 am that Saturday morning at Camp St. Croix in Hudson, we will be half our usual number. We will be wearing face masks and we will be physically distanced. As always, emotions will run high. There will be laughter and cheering and crying. At the end of it all, what was a collection of cautious strangers will have become an extended family. It will be different, though, because we won’t be able to give each other hugs and high-fives. We won’t be able to crowd together in sharing circles or swing each other around during the first night’s raucous square dance. The concept will be familiar to a funeral director. How do you honor the dead and give space to mourning and comfort from six feet away and at 50% capacity? You have managed and we will too. A cheer went up from our team of volunteers when we finally made the decision to hold an in-person one day camp. It isn’t easy. Creating a significant camp experience while staying safe involves a lot of work. But it is worth it. And we are doing it. This year’s Hearts of Hope will be a very special camp.

For all of us, staff and volunteers, running camp gives us joy and a strong sense of fulfillment. We know too that Hearts of Hope Family Grief Camp changes lives. Whether or not you are a funeral director, I am certain that you know of someone or some family who has recently experienced the death of a loved one. Make sure they know about Hearts of Hope Family Grief Camp. This year, more than ever, it is important that they go. Remember: The camp is free, it changes lives; and for you as an MFDA member, Hearts of Hope Family Grief Camp is YOUR camp. Learn more and register at http:// childrensgriefconnection.com. Alex Treitler Executive Director Children’s Grief Connection

Donating to Children’s Grief Connection has never been easier!

1. Shop on Amazon at www.smile.amazon.com. 2. Designate Children’s Grief Connection as your beneficiary. A portion of online purchase proceeds automatically go to Children’s Grief Connection!

Welcome to Our 2020-2021 MFDA President, Kelly J. Kelly

Continued from cover…

We have often times been a profession that has been overlooked, or maybe felt like we were in a thankless position. If anything good has come from this chaos, I would like to think families have had to lean on us a little harder for guidance and we have shown how we truly do have an extremely important role.

What will we strive to accomplish as an association this next year in funeral service? Truth is, we don’t know what the next 3, 6, 9 months to a year are going to bring our way and most of us will be managing to go with the flow. I know our focus remains on bringing help into our profession through reciprocity, and mentoring to reach others that may want to pursue this avenue. We, as an association will always encourage feedback and always welcome anyone that wants to be involved with the board or on any committees.

I truly feel blessed to be a part of an elite group of individuals that sacrifice over and over for the greater good. Muhammed Ali probably said it best when he said, Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth. I would say we are all doing very well.