You Need Not Walk Alone

(This brochure is designed for chapters to hand out to new members and the newly bereaved)

We are sorry for the reason you need The Compassionate Friends—but we are glad you have found us. When a child has died, the whole world seems to have crashed around you. An emptiness may grip you that nothing seems to fill. As shock fades away, you may feel a helplessness and depression that will leave you unable to function. The world has changed—and so have you. Your decision to walk through the doors of a meeting of The Compassionate Friends is a difficult one.

But, here you will not be judged and will find the friendship of others who truly understand much of what you are feeling. We join together to remember our children, learn coping skills, and make friendships that can help carry us through the most difficult time of our lives. We Need Not Walk Alone!

History of The Compassionate Friends

Founded in England in 1969 after a young chaplain brought two sets of grieving parents together at a hospital in England, The Compassionate Friends is today located in more than 30 countries around the world.

This chapter is one of more than 630 U.S. chapters serving every state, operating under the umbrella of The Compassionate Friends national organization.

We welcome you to our meetings with open hearts.You will find hugs of friendship and understanding. You will hear stories of pain, but you will also hear stories of hope. You will find caring leaders, who are not professionals, but who understand much of your pain, for they have been there, too.

Whether the child you mourn died before birth, as an infant, child, teen, or adult, we will walk with you for as long as the journey takes.

TCF NATIONAL ACTIVITIES

The Compassionate Friends National Website:

Visit the award-winning national TCF website, www. compassionatefriends.org, for a wide range of current information about TCF activities. There is an Online Support Community, conference and Worldwide Candle Lighting details, sibling information, an e-newsletter sign-up area, and much, much more.

National Conferences: Every year, The Compassionate Friends sponsors a national conference during the summer, attended by bereaved families from nearly every state, as well as many countries. TCF national conferences feature wellknown grief speakers, as well as workshops on a variety of topics aimed at all family members. There is quiet time for reflection, and sharing sessions on grief-related areas.

Every year, The Compassionate Friends sponsors a national conference during the summer, attended by bereaved families from nearly every state, as well as many countries. TCF national conferences feature wellknown grief speakers, as well as workshops on a variety of topics aimed at all family members. There is quiet time for reflection, and sharing sessions on grief-related areas.

The Worldwide Candle Lighting: The second Sunday in December at 7 p.m. local time, hundreds of thousands of bereaved family members and friends from around the world join together, whether in a formal service or at home, to remember all children who have died by lighting a candle for one hour. This creates a virtual wave of light encircling the globe. Visit our national website for a listing of services open to the public. We also invite you to post a message in the Remembrance Book, on the national website, open for submissions only the day of the Worldwide Candle Lighting.

The second Sunday in December at 7 p.m. local time, hundreds of thousands of bereaved family members and friends from around the world join together, whether in a formal service or at home, to remember all children who have died, no matter their age, by lighting a candle for one hour. This creates a virtual wave of light encircling the globe. We invite you to post a message on the national website in the Remembrance Book open for submissions only during the Worldwide Candle Lighting.

Walk to Remember: Sunday morning prior to the close of each national conference, those attending are able to join together to walk two miles as a symbolic remembrance of their children. In addition, the names of thousands of children sent to the national office by families unable to attend, are worn on a walk T-shirt by a board or staff member, or other volunteer. Many local chapters hold concurrent walks. Join in the Walk to Remember© from your home by creating a remembrance website during a unique fundraising program available online at TCF’s national website.

Sunday morning prior to the close of each national conference, those attending are able to join together to walk two miles as a symbolic remembrance of their children. In addition, the names of thousands of children sent to the national office by families unable to attend, are worn on a walk T-shirt by a board or staff member, or other volunteer. Many local chapters hold concurrent walks. Join in the Walk to Remember© from your home by creating a remembrance website during a unique fundraising program available online at TCF’s national website.

Books: The Compassionate Friends recommended source for bereavement books is Centering Corporation, recognized for its wide selection of grief materials. Call 866-218-0101 for a catalog, or visit their website at www.centering.org. When ordering, mention you are with TCF and all shipping charges will be waived.

The Compassionate Friends recommended source for bereavement books is Centering Corporation, recognized for its wide selection of grief materials. Call 866-218-0101 for a catalog, or visit their website at . When ordering, mention you are with TCF and all shipping charges will be waived.

Visit The Compassionate Friends on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TCFUSA and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/tcfofusa.

 

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This pamphlet also contains a coupon for a free mini-subscription (two issues--1 per customer-value $10) of TCF's award winning magazine We Need Not Walk Alone.

 

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This pamphlet also includes an area where chapters, hospitals, funeral homes, and others can place personalized information through placement of a label.

©2008-2009 The Compassionate Friends, USA - All rights reserved. These materials are protected by U.S. copyright and are provided here for personal use only. Reproduction for mass distribution or for use on any website is prohibited.