Griffin Cares Foundation

GRIFFIN CARES FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE COPING WITH A PREGNANCY OR INFANT LOSS. WE OFFER PEER-FOCUSED SUPPORT SERVICES AND ARE COMMITTED TO PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT CARE.

CARE KITS: AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY ONBOARDING PROCESS, GRIFFIN CARES FOUNDATION SENDS A FREE CARE KIT TO EACH FAMILY WHO REGISTERS FOR PEER SUPPORT. OUR CARE KITS CONTAIN A COLLECTION OF TANGIBLE RESOURCES THAT PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF GRIEF. ALL OF OUR CARE KIT RESOURCES HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED BY OTHER PEERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND INCLUDE INFORMATION ON COPING WITH BABY LOSS AND GRIEF, HEALING AND REMEMBRANCE RESOURCES, AND BOOKS FOR PARTNERS AND SIBLINGS AS NEEDED. EACH CARE KIT CONTAINS AN ENCLOSURE CARD THAT IS PERSONALIZED WITH THE BABY'S NAME AND HAND-SIGNED BY THE VOLUNTEER WHO PACKED THE KIT TO FURTHER THE WELCOMING FEELING OF THIS GIFT AND UNDERSCORE THE MESSAGE THAT THE RECIPIENT IS NOT ALONE IN THEIR GRIEF.

LAVENDER WELLNESS RETREAT:GRIFFIN CARES FOUNDATION IS PROUD TO HAVE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST WELLNESS RETREAT IN 2024. DESIGNED AS A COMPLIMENTARY GIFT TO NURTURE THE LOSS MOMS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THIS DAY-LONG PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON THE CALMING AND THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF LAVENDER. IN-PERSON PARTICIPANTS WILL BE HOSTED FOR WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING EVENTS AT A LAVENDER FARM SURROUNDED BY THE HEALING AROMA AND RELAXING BEAUTY OF THE BLOOMING FIELDS. A NOURISHING LUNCH AND TIME FOR REFLECTION AND CONNECTION WITH OTHER ATTENDEES IS INCLUDED AS WELL. MEMBERS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE NY/NJ AREA ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE VIA AN "EVENT-TO-GO" BOX INCLUDING LAVENDER WELLNESS ITEMS, LAVENDER REFRESHMENTS, EVENT KEEPSAKES, AS WELL AS INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES.SUPPORT GROUPS:GRIFFIN CARES PEER SUPPORT GROUPS OFFER A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO DISCUSS YOUR FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES WITH OTHER LOSS PARENTS. SUPPORT GROUPS CAN HELP MEMBERS FEEL LESS ALONE AND MORE PREPARED TO NAVIGATE DAILY LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS. NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON YOUR GRIEF JOURNEY, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE COMFORT AND STRENGTH WITH OTHERS WHO REALLY GET IT. ALL GRIFFIN CARES PEER SUPPORT GROUPS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO BIRTHING PARENTS AND PARTNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A PREGNANCY OR INFANT LOSS. OUR PEER GROUP FACILITATORS ARE ALL LOSS PARENTS WHO ARE TRAINED IN PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT, TO GUIDE THE CONVERSATION AND OFFER ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND HOPE FROM FURTHER ALONG THE GRIEF JOURNEY.

ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE DAY EVENT:GRIFFIN CARES FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE DAY EVENT IS A FREE COMMUNITY PROGRAM OFFERED EACH YEAR IN OCTOBER DURING NATIONAL PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH. THIS SPECIAL VIRTUAL EVENT FEATURES PARENT REFLECTIONS, GUEST SPEAKERS, A COMMUNITY REMEMBRANCE PRESENTATION. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE PROGRAM IS A MEANINGFUL CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY WHERE ALL WHO PARTICIPATE ARE INVITED TO LIGHT A CANDLE AND SHARE THEIR BABY'S NAME TO PROVIDE A DEDICATED SPACE FOR REMEMBRANCE AND REFLECTION. AS AN ADDITIONAL INTERACTIVE ELEMENT OF THIS PROGRAM, ALL PROGRAM REGISTRANTS RECEIVE A REMEMBRANCE DAY COMFORT BOX SHIPPED TO THEIR HOME PRIOR TO THE EVENT. THIS COMPLIMENTARY GIFT CONTAINS AN EVENT PROGRAM, PERSONALIZED REMEMBRANCE AND KEEPSAKE ITEMS, REFRESHMENTS, AND A CANDLE TO LIGHT DURING THE EVENT.

PEER MENTOR PROGRAM:GRIFFIN CARES PEER MENTORS ARE FELLOW BEREAVED PARENTS WHO HAVE LIVED WITH LOSS FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR AND HAVE COMPLETED A TRAINING PROGRAM. ALL OF OUR PEER MENTORS UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO "PAY IT FORWARD" TO HELP FAMILIES WHO HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A LOSS. WHEN GRIEF IS SO NEW AND RAW, SOMETIMES JUST KNOWING THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS MADE IT THROUGH THE DARK PLACE YOU ARE IN PROVIDES A GLIMMER OF HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT. A PEER MENTOR CAN ALSO BE A HELPFUL SOURCE FOR PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICE ON DEALING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND RETURNING TO DAILY LIFE.