BRIDGES OF HOPE NEWSLETTER | WINTER 2024

Lauren,


There’s no right way to grieve; so there’s no one right way to provide grief support. Based on this principle, we’ve long used a variety of activities - art, music, writing, hiking, & mindfulness just to name a few - to help children find creative approaches that are best-suited for their unique experiences. And in the last few years, with soothing visits at Shannon’s Hope Camp from Pearl & Nugget - two adorable pet therapy dogs - we’ve seen first-hand how much joy & comfort that animals offer children who are grieving. Encounters with animals have been proven to reduce stress, counteract feelings of isolation, and even stimulate the release of oxytocin sometimes known as the “trust” or “bonding” hormone. 


With these benefits in mind, we are delighted to share that we recently launched Hope, Hooves, & Healing in partnership with Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding to offer supportive encounters with horses. I hope you’ll read below to learn more about this innovative approach for helping children & teens to heal & grow. Thanks for being part of our team!


Gratefully,

Jonathan Wright

Executive Director

Growing with Grief

Leading the Way

"It can be difficult to hear some of the details of how someone’s loved one died...I admire how resilient the kids are. When they have a strong support network and an organization like Bridges of Hope to help them navigate the grief process, they can heal and flourish."


Novie Payne - clinical therapist, board member, camp facilitator, & beach enthusiast


Read the interview here!

Making a Difference

Breana’s life took a new turn when she became a mother to her daughter, Hunter, in January 2023. Despite the demands of motherhood and her school counseling job, Breana’s dedication to making a difference persisted.


In the summer of 2023, she took a temporary step back from her role as a School Counselor to become an AmeriCorps VISTA for Bridges of Hope.


Read the interview here!

Working Together

"I saw some students sitting and creating together that I don’t normally see interacting with each other. It was a true moment of community." - School Nurse


In honor of Children's Grief Awareness Month, we collaborated with our local school partners to raise awareness about children's grief. Several schools created memory tables for students to openly acknowledge their grief, and the impact was profound. Read about it here!

Learn More

call: 843-216-7323
Donate Now!

Friends of Bridges

Thanks to all who attended Friends of Bridges last month. We had a blast at Holy City Brewing celebrating our volunteers, partners, and donors. Here's a slideshow highlighting our amazing & generous community of supporters!

Get Involved

Walk, run, hike, ride - do whatever you do; just join Team HOPE so we can #GearUp4GriefSupport together! Click here to learn more.


Make a Referral

Give a child or teen access to our grief support services in 3 simple steps:


  1. Familiarize yourself with our services
  2. Complete our brief Referral Form
  3. We'll follow up to get things started.

Upcoming Events


Family Farm Day Visit Feb 17

Hope, Hooves, & Healing Series March

Shannon's Hope Camp March 9-10

Charleston Open April 1-7

Family Workshop April 9

Hope Blossoms April 18th

RiverDogs Night May 21st


Full Event Calendar

grief gleanings

"Animals invite us to slow down, reach out; they allow us to feel & express things when words are hard to find; maybe even help us find our way back to ourselves when we feel lost."


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