PRESQUE ISLE — Ryan’s Heart, a local non-profit organization for grieving children and their families, was recently awarded a $2,000 grant from the Aroostook County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation to fund a 10-week grief support program in Aroostook County.
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Ryan’s Heart, a local non-profit organization for grieving children and their families, recently received a $2,000 grant from the Aroostook County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation to fund a 10-week grief support program in Aroostook County. Ryan’s Heart is hoping to offer the first support group this fall. Pictured are, from left: Ryan’s Heart President Kelly Gumprecht, board member Jamie Chandler and Sandy Gauvin, vice chair of the Aroostook County Fund.
This grant money will be used to launch Neighborhood Hearts, a 10-week grief support group for children and adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one and are looking for assistance with the grieving process.
“The Neighborhood Hearts program is much needed in Aroostook County,” said Jamie Chandler, board member of Ryan’s Heart. “A program such as this will provide a supportive environment for individuals to share, develop, and grieve in a positive and healthy way.”
Neighborhood Hearts will service children of all ages, as well as adults. Participants will be broken down into age-appropriate groups, and program facilitators will provide programming to initiate and process feelings of loss. Ryan’s Heart is hoping to offer the first support group in the late fall of this year.
For 25 years, the Maine Community Foundation has been partnering with donors and community groups to strengthen Maine through grants and scholarships. For more information, visit the foundation’s Web site, www.mainecf.org or call 1-877-700-6800.
