November 2010 Newsletter

Nonprofit Org.
US Postage
Healing a child’s grieving heart…
Permit No. 148
Lewiston, ID 83501
Be there on special days and occasions. Certain
days are bound to be hard for the grieving child,
such as the child’s birthday, the birthday of the
person who died, the anniversary of the death,
holidays, and once-in-a-lifetime events such as
school plays and graduation.
PAID
PO Box 1361
Lewiston, ID 83501
Willow Center - 208.791.7192
Family Support Line - 509.780.1156
willow-center.org
These days remind the child that an important
person in his/her life can’t be there for him/her.
Acknowledge the loss on these days by telling the
child, “Your mother would be so proud of you”,
or “Your brother (use the name) loved Christmas
cookies, didn’t he?”
Find us on Facebook
Right now, while you’re thinking about it, mark
these special days on your planning calendar.
Make a note to support the child somehow on
those days! You both will benefit!!
Grief never ends, but it changes
It’s a passage, not a place to stay
Grief is not a sign of weakness
Nor a lack of faith
It is the price of love
Here Are Some Tips for Coping with
Special Days and Holidays:
•Get plenty of rest.
•Try to tell those around you what you really need,
since they may not know now to help you. Ask for their
understanding if you withdraw from an activity that doesn’t
feel like a good idea to you.
•Acknowledge to yourself that the occasion may be painful
at times.
•Let yourself feel whatever you feel.
•Express feelings in a way that is not hurtful.
•Don’t be afraid to rethink traditions. Keep in mind that
traditions, even long-standing ones, can be changed and
can be resumed next year or not.
•Honor the memory of a loved one – give a gift or donation in
his/her name, light a candle, display pictures and/or share
favorite stories with supportive people.
•Discuss, ahead of time with family and/or friends, what
each person can do to make this time special. Share in the
responsibility, and see what can be eliminated or included
to keep it less stressful.
•Think about what part of the event you are not looking
forward to, and discuss with other participants ahead of
time, what can be done to change it.
•Remember, its okay to laugh and enjoy yourself.
•Make a shopping list ahead of time and shop on a good day.
•Propose a toast to your loved one and invite people to share
memories.
The Little Big Wagon Raffle is happening now!
Special thanks and gratitude to Maggi Alsager for her many years of service!
Look for our five themed wagons displayed around town! Help support the Willow Center by buying chances to
win one of the chock full wagons, each valued at over $600.
Maggi is retiring from her work at the Willow Center after dedicating over 10 years of her time to grieving children
and their families. Maggi was one of our very first volunteers when we began our support groups in January, 2000.
“A Hunting We Will Go” - A wagon full of hunting supplies
for the hunter of the family.
“It has been my honor to work with the volunteer coordinators
and facilitators over the past eleven years. Their dedication
and support to each other along with the kids and families
make it possible to work through the worst of issues. It was my
pleasure to facilitate the adult (parent) group. The compassion
and support exchanged between parents/adults, and to me, has
been unending. We were there for each other through the good
times and the bad times giving our own unique support and just
listening. The Willow Center has a lasting impact on those who
are involved whether as volunteers or as families. It changes
our lives for the better. It prepares us to face whatever life will
throw at us. Thank you to everyone who has touched my life
through the Willow Center. You will forever be in my heart.”
– Maggi Alsager
“It’s all about Her!” - Items every woman will enjoy!
Sponsored by The Garden Gate & Cottage and Wasem’s
Sponsored by Bryan’s Archery!
“Just Toying Around” - The top ten (10) most popular
and fun toys as researched by “time to play”. Eclectic
collection of Santa’s finest!
Sponsored by King Services and Construction!
“S’more Family Memories” - The complete camping
set-up, including s’mores, to help you make new family
memories out in the woods or in your backyard!
Sponsored by Tri-State Outfitters
“SSSh! I’m Reading.” - A library of books for children of
all ages.
Sponsored by Rich and Susie Schaefer
Drawing will be December 18th, 2010 at 2:00, at the Lewiston Center Mall! Tickets are $5 each or, 5 tickets for $20.
We’d also like to thank our other wagon sponsors:
Banner Bank, D & B Farm & Home, Printcraft Printing, and Stillings & Embry Florists.
Willow Center for Grieving Children provides support to children, teens and their families who are grieving a death.
The success of the Willow Center is due, in part, to the dedication of our volunteers! We thank each and every
one of them for all that they give to the children, teens, and families involved in our program.
Board of Directors
Wade McManigle, Chair
Inland Cellular
Les Shriver
Cable One
Renee Larrabee
Retired
Ginny McGivney, Vice-Chair Mary Lee Frazier
The Steamery
Clarkston Heights Market
Gina Rinehart
Banner Bank
Nicole Blair, Secretary
Valley Boys and Girls Club
Megan Freeman
Presnell Gage
Heather Markwalter
Walla Walla
Community College
WillowCenterNewsletter_Nov2010 1
Renee Olsen
Lewis-Clark State College
Ron Wise
Retired
Angie Blewett
Regence
Volunteers of 2009-2010:
Brent Hardin
Potlatch No.1 Federal
Credit Union
Judy Rooney, MSW
Executive Director
Judy Rooney, Executive Director and Maggi Alsager, volunteer
Twin County United Way
Steve Button
Deb Street
Mimsi Wise
Judy Adams
Maggi Alsager
Diana Becker
Dyan Broemmeling
Kayla Burke
Rita Callery
Pat Church
Susan Comstock
Mary Lou Franzese
Jason Harwick
Kindra Hibbard
Debbie Keller
Resa Konkright
Karol McBride
Kelly McKeehan
Orah Lee Morgan
Brittany Peters
Nancy Rosch
Jennifer Rotors
Brenda Sullivan
Amanda Thompson
Julie White
11/19/10 8:13 AM
Family Spotlight
Camp Erin!
In May of 2009 my husband Jarrod Shaffer passed away suddenly. I
was left alone with my two children, Tristan and Mackenzie. I had
no idea how to help them understand what had happened or how
to deal with the pain and loss of their father. Prior to Jarrod’s
passing I had not heard of the Willow Center, and so it was my
sister who encouraged me to call for information. I am thankful
everyday that this wonderful program was available for my family.
Just knowing that there is a place that it is okay to talk about a
loved one’s passing is comforting. At the time that we began to
attend the sessions, my children did not talk to me often about
their father, either because they thought it would hurt me more
or they just didn’t know how to talk about something as terrible
as this. Now because of the healthy environment that The Willow
Center provides, my children can openly talk about their father
without feeling bad.
Wow, what a
wonderful time
we had at Camp
Erin this past
summer! Twenty
one kids and over
forty volunteers
spent the July
4th weekend at
Camp Wooten
participating in traditional camp activities, learning
about grief, and honoring their loved one that had died.
We recently received this email from one of our Camp
Erin volunteers, Steve Stroschein:
Mackenzie, Mandy, and Tristan Shaffer
It is comforting to me that there is a place for me to go and voice my concerns and fears to people who understand.
And my children enjoy being with other kids that don’t think it is strange or odd that they don’t have a father
because they have all lost someone special to them.
The Willow Center family has become an important part of our lives and it has helped us immensely through our loss.
Mandy, Tristan and Mackenzie Shaffer
THANK YOU TO OUR 2009-2010 DONORS
Under $99 Friends
Judy & David Adams
Wanda & Stevphen Aiken
Morris Albers
Bradley Allison
Alpha Delta Kappa
Maggie Alsager
Casie Anderson
Eric & Debbie Asplund
Brit & Debra Ausman
Pip & Mary Ausman
Jenny & Paul Baker
Bank of Whitman*
Larry & Judy Bean
Sherrie Beckman
Tom & Carrie Beloit
Best Buy Flooring, LLC
Helen Binninger
Nicole Blair
Jodi & Robert Bolon
Marlene & Ray Brooks
Su Brown
Meghan Bruns
Greg & Sue Buratto
Connie & Bruce Burton
Rita & Tom Callery
Kathi & Rod Carlson
Carol & Agapito Hernandez
Carolyn Hamm
Theresa Carter
Joan Chase
Pat & Keith Church
Tammy Cleveland
Becky & Ted Coddington
R.C. Colburn
Bob & Jennifer Coleman
Denise & Dick Connolly
Kammy Cox
Leann & Gregory Cox
Rick & Cookie Crane
Marsha & Ted Creason
Stephanie & Richard Cuddihy
Nola Cullum
Jackson & Mirinda Davis
Diana & Richard Becker
Rhett & Wendy Diessner
Kethanne Acey Dressen
Carol & Michael Dugger
Betty Ells
Kimberly Evans
Farm Credit Services
Fazzari’s
Steven Forge
Larry & Janis Forsmann
Frito Lay*
Jenny & Ed George
Myleen & Charles Grogan
Lee Ann & John Hancock
Rebecca & Doug Havens
Stan & Melanie Hawkins
Hay’s Produce*
Robin Henderson, DDS*
Kindra & Dustin Hibbard
Kathy & Wayne Hollingshead
Cheryl Jackson
Jamie & James Pelerino
Jim & Darcy Nelly
Pam & Brendan Johnson
Kathy & Gary Stachofsky
Kendell & Jolien Jenks
Sherrie Streeter Kirk
Carol & Dennis Knight
Nicole Koehler
Paul & Karen Kucera
Lori & Ron Landrus
Georgia Lenzmeier
Laurie & Dave Lewis
Wendy & Bryan Lind
Julia & Billie Long
Deby & Alan Lutes
Peggy & Patrick Madden
Mary McCollum
Debbie McCulley
Patricia McNish
Rob & Cari Meyers
Shelly & Darrell Mohr
Kim & Gene Nelson
Theresa & Jeff Nesset
Angela & Patrick Nuxoll
Brenda & Gary Offerdahl
Renee Olsen
Anita & Paul Orton
Susan & David Pakula
Mark & Susan Peterson
Presnell Gage, PLLC
Progressive Pediatrics, Dr. John
Harris
Monica Richards
Marjean Tucker Riggers
Ruth & Carl Riggers
Gina Rinehart
Linda & Ed Robel
Victoria Rodriguez
Glen & Heidi Rogers
Ray & Nancy Rosch
Jennifer Rupe
S & A Wood Specialties
Marina & Dale Scoles
Kellye & Allan Sharp
Kathy Slinker
Tyson & Soo Lee Bruce-Smith
Michael & M. Kathy Smolinski
State of ID District II Basketball
Officials Assoc.
Charmain Steiger
Sandra Stiffarm
Dan & Pat Stipe
Brenda & John Sullivan
John Tait and Christina Bjornstad
Tendercare Children’s Center
Rick & Darlene Thornycroft
Twin River National Bank*
United Way of Brown County
Travis & Ashlie Walker
Sandy & Rodney Wallace
Lloyd & Janis Wallis
David & Linda Weisel
Stephanie & Harold Whitcomb
Laurie Wilson
Ron & Mimsi Wise
“We make a living by what
we get, we make a life by
what we give”
~Winston Churchill
$100 - $499 Advocates
Ron & Pat Asker
ATK
Mike & Barbara Auer
Banner Bank
Teresa & Warren Benner
Ron & Melynda Blewett
Dyan & Jerry Broemmeling
Steve Button*
Camp, Cabin & Home
Catholic Daughters of America
Dick & Vicki Clifford
Community Bank*
Susan Comstock*
Bill & Kathy Cone
D & B Farm & Home
Coreen Ehlert
Keely Ellis
Barbara Failing*
Mary Lou Franzese*
Gund Bear Co.*
Hahn Rental Center
Kelly & Joe Hall
Home Depot, Inc.*
T. K. Krisher
Laura Lumley
Malcom’s Brower-Wann
Funeral Home*
Mann Mortgage LLC
Craig & Jenell Martinson
Mitchell Marx
Ginny McGivney*
Merchant RichardsonBrown Funeral Homes*
MoneySaver*
Richard & Johnette Moore
Mountain View Funeral Home*
Donna Mueller
Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Leanne & Mike Owen
Owl Pharmacies*
Potlatch No. 1 Federal Credit Union*
Michael & Sharon Ripley*
“Ahhhh yes, I remember seeing you at camp...” “I luvd
amp!”...and off she went...just a little Camp Erin story
four months later...you people do good work...keep it up...
Thank you Steve, and the many other donors and
volunteers that made Camp Erin a success!
“… because no child should grieve alone.”
Visit our web site to sign up a camper for
Camp Erin 2011!
I was walking up the sidewalk yesterday....and this tiny
little dark haired girl came up to me and said, “I sawed you
this ummer.”, and I said, “Huh?”
You would think after 21 years of teaching I would have
these speech patterns down....She repeated it again. “I
sawed you this ummer.” My teacher listening skills kicked
in and I said, “Where did you see me this summer?” She
looked at me all disgusted and said, “I sawed you at amp!”
WITH GRATITUDE
willow-center.org
donors continued...
Mike & Judy Rooney
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center*
Ursula & Juergen Schrattenholzer
Les & Denise Shriver*
Samantha Skinner
The Steamery*
Alex & Michele Tibbits*
Tri-State Memorial Hospital*
United Church of Clearwater Valley
Village Centre Cinemas
Carol Wallace
Julie White
Willow Creative Floral & Gifts
Wayne & Shay Wood*
2010 Campers enjoy a morning hike.
$500 - $999 Visionaries
Mike Bordwell
Clarkston Heights MarketMary Lee & John Frazier
Clarkston High School ASB
Friends of Parks & Rec of Asotin Co. –
Rockin on the River Committee
Ida-Vend Broadcasting
Lewiston High School ASB
Lewiston Service League
Mike Jensen Memorial Run
Port City Action Corp. –
Hot August Night Committee
Printcraft Printing*
Regence
Rich & Susan Schaefer
Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home*
Wasem’s Drug
$1000 + Willow Circle
A Little Hope Foundation
Marsha Burns
Congregational Presbyterian Church
Inland Cellular*
St. Stanislaus Church
The Moyer Foundation*
Twin County United Way
Dick White – R. J. White & Sons*
In Memory of:
Tyler Broneske
Joseph McCann
Jeffrey Weisel
In Honor of:
Wally & Lyn Hall
*Supporter of Camp Erin
HAVE YOU MADE YOUR ANNUAL DONATION?
Arlin Comstock
Mindy McCulley
Cynda Hyndman
Thanks to our generous
family of donors, we are
able to provide services
and resources free to
children, families and
the community.
The Willow Center is supported by private funds donated
by individuals, businesses, foundations, and families
who participate. No family is ever turned away.
Willow Center is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization.
Yes, I would like to make a donation.
I have enclosed a check in the amount of $__________ made out to Willow Center.
Giving Levels: Friends: Under $99
This gift is in
memory of
Advocates: $100-$499
Visionaries: $500-$999
Willow Circle: $1,000+
honor of: Name_ ________________________________________________________
Your Contact Information:
Name_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________City_______________________________ State_______ Zip___________
Phone_ ________________________________ Email________________________________________________________
Please enclose this form in an envelope and send to: Willow Center, PO Box 1361, Lewiston, ID 83501
WillowCenterNewsletter_Nov2010 2
11/19/10 8:13 AM