March 2019
Leon Family Gallery at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus
A young child just learns that her father has died from an accident at work. Who can she talk to about her feelings? How can she cope with this tragic loss? How will her family cope and begin to heal from this crisis?
Many children suffer the loss of a significant loved one before age 18. Jewish Family Service of Tidewater is available to help these young people and their families.
Jewish Family Service counseling staff, through the Dozoretz Center for Healing and the Jessica Glasser Children’s Therapeutic Pavilion, specializes in helping individuals of all ages cope with loss and grieving. One component of this program is a free support group for children, teens, and their families who have experienced the death of a loved one: Peace by Piece. This program is operated by Edmarc in collaboration with JFS.
JFS and Edmarc co-sponsor an annual art show—now in its 15th year—that displays the creative drawings and words of local grieving children and teens. This is an opportunity for these young people to share their feelings with others and to see that they are not alone. The art show is open to any school-aged youth in Tidewater who has experienced the death of a loved one. Over the past 14 years, more than 400 pictures have been displayed.
After this annual Grieving Children’s Art Show in the Leon Family Gallery, artwork will be on display for one night only for Peace by Piece families on May 30, 2019. Following that, the artwork will return to either JFS or Edmarc for display throughout the rest of the year.
For more information on the exhibit, program, or services offered by JFS, contact Debbie Mayer, LCSW, at JFS at 757-459-4640 or dmayer@jfshamptonroads.org.