Peek behind the scenes at a Valerie's House peer grief support group activity: Calm Down Bottles. Kids, teens, and caregivers will discuss healthy ways to cope with stress and the kids will use water, oil, glitter, and beads to create lava lamp-inspired “calm down bottles,” a great sensory object to help them be present and relax.
Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida-based street artist Dean visited Valerie’s House in Fort Myers in January to teach teaching a few of our teens who have lost a loved one the history, evolution, and techniques behind (legal) graffiti.
Read MoreOn Valerie’s House’s fifth birthday (January 11, 2021), Founder & CEO Angela Melvin takes you inside to see what happens at a peer grief support group night.
Read MoreSeeing her friends at group night is something Savannah looks forward to every two weeks. Her smile lights up the room, and her positive energy seems to follow her everywhere she goes. “At Valerie’s House, you turn that grief and that anger and that guilt into positivity and happiness,” Savannah said. “It has changed my life.”
Read MoreThe support many of you have already provided to our Every Sunset Brings the Promise of a New Dawn Campaign has meant so much to us. This year has been full of twists and turns, and grieving families have had to navigate loss under unprecedented circumstances.
We are proud to share that Valerie’s House families continue to meet adversity head-on and grow together because of our supportive community. Please take a moment to hear from Grady, who went from lost and lonely to a student council member with big dreams for his future. If you haven’t already donated to the campaign, please consider helping us continue to provide support and encouragement to kids who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
These teens aren’t letting loss limit their dreams.
Ashely, Silvia and Elizabeth share wisdom and experiences gained through their experience with the Val's Pal Community Mentoring Program.
From the Valerie’s House family, we applaud the accomplishments and perseverance of our high school and college GRADUATES. They have overcome their loss and triumphed in their young life. This is only the beginning for them. Watch this tribute to the Valerie's House GRADUATES, what they share about their Grief Journey during high school and advice to other teens grieving.
Valerie's House Program Director Amy Strom shares her thoughts and tips on parenting during this stressful time.
Diana, Nayah, CJ and Stori provide us with a glimpse into Mothers Day in their life. They provide wisdom, love and advice to any willing to listen.
Valerie's House teen, Stori, is spending the last months of her senior year at home. Major end-of-year events are canceled, including prom and graduation. Stori wishes she was spending this time making lasting memories with her friends, because they are all going their separate ways in the Fall.
The one person who would be able to help Stori make sense of it all is not here, and that is one of the biggest challenges she's facing right now. When Stori's mother died in 2015, she lost the person she could rely on most. Stori is not alone. She and other Valerie's House teens were able to discuss their grief as it relates to the current pandemic in their new virtual support group. Stori is glad to have an outlet like Valerie's House where she can express her grief with others her own age and realize her feelings are normal and valid.
In this video, we outline the universal realities of grief, the impact of grief by developmental age and how to talk to a grieving child.
Carl and Joslynn's lives were changed forever when wife and mother, Shoshana died in a car accident in 2016. When they found Valerie's House in 2018, they were able to connect with others who had also experienced a major loss. Through support received at Valerie's House, they can cope with this unimaginable loss.
Austin Wolin's Eagle Scout project to help grieving children is complete. He's delivered dozens of bags stuffed with bears, blankets, and coloring books to Golisano Children's Hospital of SWFL. The bags also contain a personal letter from Austin about the loss of his father. He hopes these bags will provide a small amount of comfort to other children after they lose a loved one and let them know they are not alone.
A very special serving of LOVE helps Valerie's House open the doors at its new location.
Read MoreWINK TV's Channing Frampton spoke to Valerie's House founder, Angela Melvin, about grief and loss following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida on February 14.
Find more on this story at WINK News.
If you know a child grieving the loss of a parent or sibling, contact Valerie's House for more information about our group support programs.
Watch our video and meet some of the kids and families at Valerie's House.
Read MoreValerie's House founder, Angela Melvin, is a finalist for News-Press 2016 Person of the Year.
Read MoreSeven-year-old Nick performs the song he wrote and dedicated to his mother.
Read More
VALERIE’S HOUSE, INC.
Fort Myers • Naples • Charlotte County • Pensacola
Phone 239-204-5804
Valerie’s House is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, registration # CH46827. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. For more information, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or visit www.freshfromflorida.com.
© 2016-2024 Valerie's House, Inc.
