Imagine Welcomes New Volunteers and Plans Next Training

Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss is a local nonprofit that offers free peer support groups for children, teens, young adults and their caregivers who are coping with the death of someone close to them. These groups are facilitated by an incredible team of volunteers who do the “heart work” at Imagine as they create safe spaces where Imagine’s participants can share their stories of loss without anyone trying to fix their grief. Imagine’s facilitators create spaces for connection, where people feel seen and felt.

As the need for Imagine’s groups continues to grow, so does their need to expand their amazing volunteer community. The staff at Imagine are so excited to welcome those pictured above who began their “heart work” at Imagine by completing one of their recent facilitator training programs. The adults attended 3 full days of training, and the youth facilitators completed 8 hours of training over 2 days. Imagine launched a new program year in September and the new facilitators are already actively involved as co-facilitators in Imagine’s support groups.

Even as Imagine begins a new program year, there are already thoughts of expanding the number of groups that they will be offering this year. With 56 virtual and in-person support groups currently offered at locations in Mountainside and Newark, Imagine’s staff are making plans to expand its offerings this year to support all who reach out, so that no one grieves alone.

With that in mind, the staff at Imagine have scheduled another facilitator training for adults in November. If you’re an adult 18 or older who would like to consider joining Imagine’s next facilitator training, November 14-16 from 9am-5pm each day, please visit their website at www.imaginenj.org to learn more and complete their interest form.

Imagine’s staff are so pleased to welcome their new volunteers and invite others in the community to consider joining this wonderful team. Together, we can ensure that families who are grieving receive support in the wake of a loss and have a safe space where they can share their feelings and know they’re not alone.

Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss is a 501c3 that offers grief and loss education and training to the community and free year-round grief support groups for children ages 3-18 and young adults 19-30 who are coping with a loss due to death. Concurrently, support groups are available for the parents and guardians of the children in the groups and offered in English and Spanish. For more information, please contact Imagine at 908-264-3100 or info@imaginenj.org or visit our website at www.imaginenj.org.