The Nelson and District Hospice Society is offering several programs to help those who are grieving during the holidays.
The society is holding a Tree of Remembrance event at the Chahko Mika Mall from now until December 14. The Tree of Remembrance is a place where people can stop and remember loved ones who have died. Placing a dove in their memory on the Tree of Remembrance, with a personal message, is one way people can share their memories and thoughts during the holiday season.
There are also materials for learning about how to cope with grief during the holidays at the tree table. The table is staffed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day but can also be accessed in the main corridor of the mall when volunteers are not present.
The society will also hold two drop-in grief groups to help bereaved clients cope with the sometimes intense feelings that can arise during the holidays after a loved one has died.
These groups will be facilitated by two volunteers from Hospice that are trained in grief support and group facilitation. There will be opportunities to share, and opportunities to learn, both from other participants and from the facilitators as they share some of the strategies for coping.
Both drop-in grief groups will be held at the Kalein Hospice Centre at 402 West Richards in Rosemont. The first is on Monday, December 23 from 6 until 8 p.m. and the second will be Friday, December 27 from 6 until 8 p.m. The drop-in groups are free although donations are gratefully accepted.
For more visit http://www.kaleinhospice.org/events.