OPEN Sessions 365 | ENROLL A CHILD NOW TO JOIN OUR NEXT SESSION
"Little Michael's Big Grief"
Grief conversations are not the easiest, especially when talking to our youth. Our story LMBG, aims to spark healthy conversations in homes around the globe. This book can be purchased at most major retail stores online. Click below to grab your copy today.
Our grief Out Loud
On February 15th, 2017, our lives as we knew shifted. Every stage of grief was touched, but acceptance was the true tough pill to swallow. After 2 long months in ICU, watching the fear in my moms eyes, Michael D. Kaigler Sr. was gone. The family trips, laughs, tears, and countless meals shared were all now just memories, memories I pray never fade. Although my 8 year old brother didn't shed a tear at the time, my heart screamed loudest for him. I lost a irreplaceable bonus dad, but he lost his father.
A year later, my brother began to act out in school, and counseling wasn't as effective as we hoped. I decided to challenge his grief in other ways. I gave him different creative expressive task to help him explore his thoughts and feelings. We came to the conclusion, grief was the elephant in the room and the only feeling that mattered was, "I miss Dad". As my brother and I were driving home from church one day, I decided to ask him what makes him feel comforted, and we could start by doing just that.
Me: If you could do anything in the world to make you feel happy, what would it be?
Him: (without hesitation) " I would just want to help people, give back, help people that can't really help themselves you know"
That moment was confirmation, and I knew our father left us something special. In our search to find programs that support children who have experienced significant loss, we discovered how few there were. Parent loss in childhood has the ability to impact you on so many levels, as I've observed first hand, but I believe finding ways to express that energy, redirect it into something amazing is so much more impactful. It was with this in mind TRP was created.
The Recharge Project is a nonprofit organization formed to provide longterm therapeutic support to children who have experienced the loss a parent or primary caregiver. The point of the organization is not to fix loss, but rather to bring school aged children together who might be isolating themselves or their feelings, shine positive light on their healing journey and build meaningful relationships! I believe kids who grieve the loss of a parent deserve a special kind of love, and we are here for it. It is my biggest hope that my brother never feels alone his journey, and neither should others.
Portia Effinger
Certified Grief Educator
Founder | Program Director
"WE ARE THE VILLAGE"
The Charge
The Challenge
The Charge
Recharge Project, Inc is a nonprofit organization that caters to the needs of children who have experienced the loss of a parent(s) or primary caregiver. In seeing a need for stronger and more consistent support after such loss, we have created a model that provides long-term therapeutic support for affected youth, targeting communities of the greatest need.
The Change
The Challenge
The Charge
Our vision is caring while connecting, and creating. We aim to support youth experiencing grief, while raising awareness to the importance of healthy emotional healing. Our programming focuses on mental health advocacy and well-being; encouraging creative expression, providing safe spaces within the community, and healthy relationship building.
The Challenge
The Challenge
The Challenge
Our ultimate goal is to positively impact lives and inspire little people to "Grieve Out Loud!". We understand this is a big job, therefore, we need your help. Our amazing team of volunteers have brainstormed solutions of how to make a maximum impact, but we all know, it takes a village. Join in on our efforts to change lives, raise awareness, and support families who grieve.
The Creed
The Challenge
The Challenge
We believe every individual grieves in their own special way. No journey is linear, nor should it be minimized by its progress. It is our aim to provide a safe space that cultivates grief so much so that one feels safe in expression, however they may choose. We aim to crush stigmas surrounding grief. Your grief matters and we are here to support your journey!