Hospice of the Sacred Hearts to Host Camp Healing Hearts

Hospice of the Sacred Heart hosts Camp Healing Hearts. This event is a five-day camp experience to provide grief education to children ages 8 to 14 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Camp is designed to provide campers exposure to the arts, giving them the opportunity to develop healthy ways to express themselves and process their emotions. Trained bereavement counselors and members of the regional arts community work together to assist the campers in finding comfortable outlets to share their grief. Jennifer Seechock, Hospice of the Sacred Heart Director of Counseling Services, will be available throughout the week for media interviews.

The five-day camp is free and is made up of instructional sessions in various art platforms.  This year’s theme is Pure Imagination. Bereavement counselors will be available throughout the week if any campers or family members require individual support.

Community volunteers lend their time to campers with artistic projects in painting, writing, photography, yoga, dance, singing and cooking/baking. All sessions will be held in person at the lodge at Montage Mountain Resort. At the conclusion of camp activities, campers and their families will enjoy a day at the waterpark on Friday, August 9th. Media representatives are encouraged to attend any session Tuesday through Friday.

A video retrospective of Camp Healing Hearts will be presented before the feature film at the Circle Drive-In, 1911 Scranton Carbondale Highway, Dickson City, on a date to be determined.  

WHEN:           

Monday through Friday, August 5 through 9, 9:00 – 11:30 AM

BEST DAYS FOR MEDIA COVERAGE ARE TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AUGUST 6 THROUGH 9, 9:30 TO 11:30 AM.

Jennifer Seechock, Hospice of the Sacred Heart Director of Counseling Services, will be available during those times for media interviews.

WHERE: Montage Mountain, 1000 Montage Mountain, Scranton, PA 18507

CONTACT: Jennifer Seechock

Hospice of the Sacred Heart

(570) 855-4370

jseechock@HospiceSacredHeart.org

Camp Healing Hearts is sponsored by New York Life, Lackawanna County, Montage Mountain Resort, Simrell Media, Lamar Advertising and Mansour’s Market Café.

Hospice of the Sacred Heart Hosts Camp Healing Hearts

Hospice of the Sacred Heart holds Camp Healing Hearts made possible by a $20,000 Community Impact Grant given by New York Life’s Northeastern Pennsylvania General Office.

This event is a five-day camp experience to provide grief education to children ages 8 to 14 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Children work with trained bereavement counselors and members of the regional arts community to help them progress towards acceptance of the loss and use the arts as a means of self-expression. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Camp Healing Hearts will be conducted safely via Zoom Video Conferencing. Jennifer Seechock, Hospice of the Sacred Heart Director of Counseling Services, will be available throughout the week for media interviews.

The five-day camp is free and is made up of two back to back 60-minute instructional sessions each day to provide a sense of routine, consistency and ultimately closure for the entire process. Each session utilizes a different theme explored through the arts. Bereavement counselors will be available throughout the week if any campers or family members require individual support.

Community volunteers lend their time to campers with artistic projects in painting, writing, yoga, dance, singing and cooking/baking. Friday’s session will be held in person at Montage Mountain Waterpark. Social distancing will be observed.

A video retrospective of Camp Healing Hearts will be presented before the feature film at the Circle Drive-In, 1911 Scranton Carbondale Highway, Dickson City, on a date to be determined in late August.

WHEN: Monday through Friday, August 9 through 13
9:30 – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Monday through Thursday via Zoom Video Conferencing
Friday in person at Montage Mountain Waterpark
1000 Montage Mountain Road, Scranton, PA 18507

The Recovery Bank Launches Grief Support Group

The Recovery Bank, a nonprofit peer-driven recovery support center, has announced the launch of a new Grief Support Group for family members and loved ones who have lost someone to drug or alcohol addiction, overdose, or other substance-related deaths. The initial group meeting of GRASP (Grief Recovery Support After a Substance Passing) is scheduled for Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 6:00pm at 120 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton.

“This support group seeks to bring together those who have suffered the unique and extremely painful loss occasioned by overdose and other circumstances, so that they can help each other in their healing process,” said Frank Bolock, Project Director at The Recovery Bank. “Unfortunately, our community has felt far too many of these tragic and untimely deaths, and families often struggle to cope after such a loss,” he continued.

There have been over 500 reported overdose deaths in Lackawanna County since 2014, according to data available from the County Coroner’s Office. Carol Coolbaugh, facilitator of the Luzerne County Chapter of GRASP, and Cara Cali, a Certified Recovery Specialist/Certified Family Recovery Specialist at The Recovery Bank, will guide the initial support group meeting. The support group is free to the public but seating is limited due to COVID safety precautions. Please call The Recovery Bank at (570) 880-7901 to reserve a seat.

“As someone who has personally experienced a loss like this, I understand that there is often a stigma associated with overdose deaths. We may become isolated in our grief, feeling that no one understands our pain. The benefit of a group like GRASP is that we can connect with those who have also lived this loss. We don’t have to walk this road alone,” Cali emphasized.

Visit RecoveryBank.org to learn more.