Copy
The Collage, New Hope Monthly February Newsletter
Is fear of loving again the next phase of grief?
Published by Cheryl Eckl 

A year before my husband died of colon cancer we bought a standard poodle puppy and named him Bentley. The idea was that I would have another living being in the house when Stephen was gone. I had never really lived alone and the prospect of that first night without any company was more than I could bear.
Stephen teased me about replacing him with a dog, but as it turned out, the dog was really for the husband to help him through the pain of losing his life. Yes, Bentley was great company to me on those first lonely nights. But he kept growing and, in a few months, became just too big and bouncy for me to handle. On Valentine's Day 2009, he went to a good home and I settled in to the rather monastic life of a writer who occasionally emerges from her cave to do a workshop.

I suppose there is nothing really wrong with this. I've written two books and dozens of blogs and articles in the past three-plus years. And I've recently been doing workshops on the benefits of palliative care when dealing with life-limiting illness. At least this gets me out to interact with people on a regular basis.
Bottom of Form

The problem is that it's Valentine's Day weekend...click here to read more
Infant Loss Support Group
Dates: February 26, 2013 to April 16, 2013
Days: Tuesdays
Time:  7:00-8:30 PM

Adult Grief Support Group
Dates: February 27, 2013 to April 17, 2013
Days: Tuesdays
Time:  7:00-8:30 PM

Adult Grief Support Group
Dates: March 11, 2013 to April 29, 2013
Days: Mondays
Time:  7:00-8:30 PM

For more information, questions, or to register for our Adult Programs, contact us at (562) 429-0075 ext. 2



Our New Hope Family Spring Camp 2013:
Friday, March 22nd–Sunday, March 24th
New Hope Family Camp is a weekend bereavement camp designed for the entire family.  It takes place in beautiful Idyllwild, CA at the famous Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times starting Friday evening, into Saturday, and leaving by noon on Sunday .  It’s a place where families who have experienced the death of a family member can come together with other families who have lost a loved one. To learn more about camp please click here. 

 

New Hope Receives Training Grant
On January 10, 2013, St. Mary Medical Center awarded $118,000 in grant funds to nine non-profit agencies at a luncheon held in their honor at the John Parr Health Enhancement Center on the campus of St. Mary Medical Center.

The grants are part of the Dignity Health Community Grants Program.  New Hope was one of the 15 organizations selected to receive funding for our Facilitator Training Program, which educates and trains volunteers to facilitate grief support groups across the greater Long Beach area. In the coming year, the program will train at least 10 new grief support group facilitators. Click here to read more.

 

Walters Wholesale Electric Brings Jerry West to Long Beach
For the last 2 years New Hope has participated in the TICKETS Fore CHARITY program, a unique fundraising program designed to help local nonprofit organizations raise money by promoting ticket sales to the Northern Trust Open.  New Hope receives 80% of the net proceeds from each ticket sold and the remaining 20% of the net proceeds benefits City of Hope. The Northern Trust Open Executive Director is NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West.  If a charity sells enough tickets Jerry West will personally attend a private event hosted by the charity.

This year one of New Hope’s enthusiastic Board Members, Bruce Flint, who is an avid golfer spearheaded this effort and really maximized the opportunity.  Click here to read more.



Meet Our Newest Board Member
New Hope is pleased to welcome our newest Board Member Todd Buchner.  Todd has worked in the wealth management and financial services industry since 1992, and is currently a partner of The Schulten Group of Wells Fargo Advisors.  Todd relocated to Long Beach in the early 90’s to escape the harsh winters of Connecticut.
Todd was introduced to New Hope when he met our founder, Sue Beeney, at a fundraiser in 2012. Todd has a true passion for serving others, and has a huge heart and truly understands our mission and the work that we do.  Todd has been a wonderful addition to our Board and we are extremely thankful and grateful to have Todd as the newest member of our New Hope family.

 

New Hope, Where There Was None
By Mike Castlen

It was early Saturday morning over 10 years ago, June first to be exact, that a knock at our front door changed our lives forever.   When I opened the door I was asked by a police officer if I was Mr. Castlen?  I replied yes, he asked if he could come inside and if Mrs. Castlen was home?  He came inside and I went and got my wife.  The officer began telling us about an accident that our 21 year old son Lucas had been in, and how the accident killed him.  In shock and disbelief, the officer shared that Lucas had apparently fallen asleep at the wheel of his vehicle while driving home from work.  He was headed northbound on the 405 freeway approaching the Seventh Street exit; he crashed into the center divider.  Upon impact Lucas was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.  There are no words that can describe the overwhelming emotions we were experiencing as my wife and I tried to fully grasp what happened to our son Lucas. Click here to read more.
 
Copyright © 2013 New Hope Grief, All rights reserved.
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp