“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

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2020 has brought many challenges for all of us. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the way we operate our lives has been transformed, and we have lived with uncertainties, rapid changes, and many disappointments. At The Compassionate Friends (TCF), chapters across our country were required to suspend in-person meetings and gatherings quickly after the pandemic began. Our annual in-person TCF National Conference had to be cancelled due to travel restrictions, capacity limits, and health risks. Yet, newly bereaved parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers continued to desperately need support during their darkest moments of pain.

Amid these challenges and restrictions, TCF volunteers, staff, and the board of directors rose to the challenge. Together we have accomplished many things even when physically distanced. We have:

• Virtual Support. Launched technology and virtual support training to aid our chapters in rapidly transitioning to virtual chapter meetings and support groups.
• Virtual Conference. Delivered a 3-day TCF Virtual Conference offering 80+ workshops. Attended by 1,000 bereaved individuals, participants attended from across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia, Kenya, U.K., Honduras, and Luxembourg. We had 30,000 conference session views.
• Leadership Awards. Honored and recognized eight TCF volunteers through TCF national awards for exemplary leadership.
• Organizational Stabilization. Stabilized financial reserves, reduced expenses, and attracted new partners to support and sustain The Compassionate Friend’s mission.
• Virtual Organization. Created systems, processes, and technology needed to transition from a physical national office into a virtual organization.
• Free Bereavement Packets. Provided over 600 bereavement support packets each month to newly bereaved families in need of immediate support through The Compassionate Friends. These packets went to many families that experienced a death from COVID-19.
• Volunteer Training Program. Created a robust year-long virtual training program for volunteers that was offered to Chapter Leaders, Facebook Group Moderators, Online Chat Support Facilitators, Steering Committee Members, and Regional Coordinators.
• COVID-19 Guidelines. Communicated guidelines and recommendations regularly that kept members abreast of the changing pandemic circumstances and these effects on chapter meetings, TCF gatherings, and our annual in-person conference.
• Worldwide Candle Lighting Program. Developed a national TCF Worldwide Candle Lighting Program to support chapters across our country who were not able to safely hold this important gathering for their members this year.
• Virtual Annual Meeting. Conducted a virtual TCF Annual Meeting this year.

Your support is needed now more than ever! The number of newly bereaved families keeps increasing with this pandemic while support options are fewer and isolation is greater. Much more help is needed as we care for bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents across the country through the broad range of services TCF offers.

Please join our ‘Rise to Meet the Challenge’ campaign by making a year-end gift to The Compassionate Friends today! Join with all those who have pledged to continue the life-changing support provided by The Compassionate Friends.

TOGETHER, we will rise to meet the challenge.

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