MIDLAND, Mich. — Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer isn’t advice or answers—it’s simply being present.
That’s the mission of the Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region, which is inviting compassionate community members to become volunteer facilitators for its peer-support groups serving children and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one.
The nonprofit provides safe, welcoming spaces where young people can express their feelings, share memories and connect with others who understand the difficult journey of grief. Sessions are held twice each month in Midland, Saginaw and Bay City, beginning with a shared meal before children separate into age-based groups designed to encourage healing through conversation, activities and mutual support.
Caregivers also participate in their own support groups, creating an environment where entire families can find understanding and hope together.
Program Director Gabby Gauthier says many prospective volunteers worry they won’t know the right thing to say. But the organization teaches that healing doesn’t come from having perfect words—it comes from listening with compassion.
Volunteers receive specialized training in reflective listening, age-appropriate grief communication and creating emotionally safe spaces for children. The center emphasizes that empathy, patience and a caring presence are the most important qualifications.
Heartitude Lens
True empathy doesn’t rush to fix someone’s pain. It chooses to sit beside it. The volunteers who serve at the Children’s Grief Center remind us that healing often begins when someone feels seen, heard and valued. Their willingness to simply listen demonstrates that compassion isn’t measured by grand gestures but by the quiet courage to be present when another person needs it most. That’s Heartitude in action—leading, living and loving from the heart.
Source Story: OurMidland.com — “Children’s Grief Center seeks volunteers.”
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