2020 Year in Review
As all 43 months of 2020 comes to an end, we are taking a moment to pause and smile with gratitude as we reflect on this year.
This year was filled with hardships, isolation and uncertainty, but there were also moments to celebrate. This year reinforced the importance of community, and served as a reminder to just how wonderful and supportive our community truly is.
We want to extend our sincerest THANK YOU to you; for your continued generosity, kind messages and check-ins. We could not have got through 2020 without your unwavering support and dedication to Seasons Centre.
We’d like to provide you with a brief update on what we’ve been up to this year.
– Sincerely,
The Seasons Centre Team
Introducing our New Development Director
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| Lisa Spinks joined Seasons Centre in November as the Development Director. Lisa grew up in Barrie and has worked in philanthropy for 15 years. Her passion is working with donors to help them achieve their dreams. Lisa is excited to be a part of the team working to heal hearts with Hope. She looks forward to getting to know the entire Seasons family. Lisa would love to to hear from you! Please email her at [email protected]. |
Program Update
This year’s challenges provided us with the opportunity to think outside the box, learn new skills and adapt.
When COVID-19 arrived in March, we were faced with the challenge of program group delivery. How do we continue to support our participants?
We turned to virtual support and adapted our group activities and format to fit this new opportunity. The one thing missing though, was the face-to-face connection with the children.
During the summer, a lot of research and work went into being able to provide safe, in-person groups in the Fall. We needed to take our groups to a bigger venue to meet the 2-metre physical distancing requirements. With adapting our program delivery again and adhering to SMDHU guidelines, we offered this style of grief support in September.
When our community moved into the Orange Phase/Restrict of Ontario’s COVID Response Framework, our programs adapted again. Keeping the safety of our participants, volunteers, and staff in mind, we have moved our support groups to a virtual format again.
Presently we are operating 13 support groups for children, teens, and adults. We will continue to offer our groups and school program virtually, until it is safe to return to the Centre.
If you or someone you know are looking for support following the death of a loved one, please contact our program staff: Natasha Manzone, [email protected] or Danielle Coates, [email protected].
Seasons Centre Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Twenty-five years ago, in December 1995, Seasons Centre for Grieving Children held our first peer support group for grieving children and families in our community.
To commemorate our 25th anniversary, we recently hosted a small ceremony to unveil a new stained-glass art installation that was created by former staff member and long-time supporter, Norma Vowels.
The Ceremony was live streamed over Instagram and a small group of Seasons Centre staff, volunteers and local government representatives came together outdoors to share in the moment. Scrolls were presented to Seasons Centre to acknowledge the positive impact made in the community.
To view the ceremony, please click the link below.
Give HOPE for the Holidays
We are committed to continuing to work with community members, schools, and organizations to build resilience in children, strengthen families, and empower the community to grow from grief.
We need your help this holiday season. Here’s why:
“Seasons Centre has been a tremendous support for my family. It has provided my step-daughter a safe space to express and work through her grief. It has helped me to have a better understanding of how children grieve differently than adults. Thank you for all that you do!”
– Grateful Mom
Please consider making a $25 one-time or monthly donation to Seasons Centre to help more children, so that they don’t have to grieve alone.
For more information please contact our Development Manager, Courtney McFadden at [email protected].
Thank you for continuing to help us heal hearts with HOPE.