For those who have been widowed, having a place to turn where others have walked the same journey can be a healing experience.
New Hope for Widow/ers and Their Families is a support organization dedicated to encouraging, helping and bringing hope to widows and widowers in the North Okanagan.
“Support groups, resources, a newsletter and an annual retreat help the bereaved through their time of grief in a safe and healthy way,” said Karen Bouchard, with the non-profit organization.
The weekly coffee group is held each Thursday morning in room #003 in the People Place in Vernon and this is often the first contact a newly bereaved person has with New Hope.
“The monthly support group is a smaller gathering, led by volunteers who are uniquely able to come alongside and offer empathetic understanding, since each of them has experienced the loss of a spouse through death,” said Bouchard.
She added that the work of New Hope could not take place without donations from members, funeral homes and churches. New Hope is a non-profit society with a registered charity number. An annual fundraiser helps support the operation of New Hope’s Vernon office and its monthly expenses of rent, telephone, Internet and part-time office staff.
New Hope for Widows and Widowers is holding a benefit concert and silent auction Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at Vernon Christian Fellowship, 4506-29th St. Tickets are $10 per person, available from the New Hope office and at the door.
Guests will enjoy dessert, entertainment by Vernon’s Aloha Polynesian dancers, door prizes and silent auction items ranging from art, crafts, event tickets, business services, dining and more. Contact the New Hope office at 250-545-6004 or newhope.bc.ca@gmail.com to reserve your tickets.
For more information about New Hope, go to the website at www.newhope-grief.org/
