Courtney McGovern was introduced to Valerie's House when looking for more opportunities to get involved within the SWFL community.

She had just finished the MBA program at Florida Gulf Coast University and found herself with some free time that she wanted to use to make an impact.

In July 2017, Courtney attended orientation at the original Valerie's House location and instantly knew it was somewhere she would enjoy connecting with others.

She met people with passion and initiative and those who experienced grief as she had. She knew this was the place she needed to be.

Courtney's dad, Chris, died on September 20, 2012. He was a former nurse who fought a long and challenging battle with addiction and mental health. In addition, her paternal grandmother, with who she spent a tremendous amount of time growing up, died on January 20, 2013, just four months after her dad.

She was a sophomore in college, living 1,400 miles away from where they died. Being a grieving college student was challenging and isolating.

"Having a place like Valerie's House would have been so impactful, and I'm grateful to be a part of providing that service to our community now," Courtney said.

After attending training, Courtney was assigned as a group facilitator on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. She said it's an honor to help those in need like she once was.

"I love volunteering at Valerie's House. Normalizing grief and better educating our community on how to support friends, co-workers, and family members that may be living with grief is so important," Courtney said.