After the death of her father in 2012, Blair felt misunderstood by her peers. She grieved in silence and felt alone after her loss.

Then, tragedy struck again when she lost two close friends due to an overdose after high school. That’s when she decided to use her experience with grief to help others who are mourning the loss of a loved one.

“When I looked into Valerie’s House, it made me realize how I could use my grief to help others going through the same thing,” Blair said.

Blair has been a dedicated Valerie’s House volunteer for the past year, working with some of our youngest group participants on Tuesday nights.

She said her favorite part of volunteering is seeing the children become more comfortable sharing in the group.

“I love building a connection with the children over time and watching them grow to the point where they are able to support the new kids that join our group,” Blair said.

We are so thankful for volunteers like Blair who help our children heal.

“I have grown emotionally and connected with others through shared experiences,” Blair said. “Deciding to volunteer at Valerie’s is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”