Meet The Charity: Camp Good Mourning! Of Huntington Provides Free Bereavement Programs

HUNTINGTON, NY — Local charities are the unsung heroes of our communities. Nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations strive to create lasting change and positively impact the lives of those around them.

Some people start organizations as a way to cope with grief, some see an issue they want to tackle, and some want to bring lasting change. Sometimes, all those reasons apply.

Patch wants to highlight your local charity and connect it with community members who want to help and do good, so that way, more people can benefit. Here is just one of many charities doing terrific work in your community.

What is your name?

Paul Rubin

What is the name of your charity?

Camp Good Mourning!

What is your position within your charity?

Founder, Executive Director

What community is your organization based in

Huntington

Link to your website

campgoodmourning.org

What is your mission?

To provide FREE bereavement camp programs for Long Island children coping with the death of a parent and/or sibling.

What does your charity do to further its mission? Please list examples.

Camp Good Mourning! holds two weekend bereavement camps per year that provide grieving children the opportunity to share their grief story, identify and explore their feelings, identify healthy and unhealthy coping skills, and learn ways to stay connected to their loved one even though they are no longer physically with them.

Camp Good Mourning! provides grief trainings for Long Island school districts, when requested, because 93% of teachers have stated that they have had NO BEREAVEMENT TRAINING.

CGM! is a frequent guest on the radio program, "Island Outlook," which airs on five Long Island radio stations. It has been profiled by CBS2 News and Newsday.

CGM! is also very active on social media and has a separate FB page just for its team members. CGM! tables events many Long Island events to help heighten awareness about its free resources. Finally, CGM! also holds two signature annual fundraisers: 1. Family Friendly Team Chicken Wing Eating Challenge Charity Fundraiser. Awards are given out in several different categories and different age groups. 2. Children Grief Awareness Day / Bingo Bonanza Charity Fundraising Event.

What inspired you to start your charity?

So many things, among them in no particular order are: A. My 2004 experience of being selected to be a Big Buddy to a 9/11 child at a children's bereavement camp; B. 1 in 12 New York children will experience the death of a parent and/or sibling by the age of 18; C. There is no other bereavement camp like it on Long Island.

How can people help you accomplish your organization's mission or get involved in events

Volunteer, donate, spread the word and lend your talents — everyone has a talent!

What is the most memorable moment you've had since starting your organization?

The day we found out Paul McCartney donated an autographed 50th anniversary Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Deluxe CD Set for Camp Good Mourning! to auction at one of our fundraising events.

What else would you like people to know about your charity?

Did you know:
• 1 in 12 American children experience the death of a parent and/or sibling by the age of 18.
• An additional 300,000+ American children have lost a parent or custodial caregiver due to COVID.
• 92% of educators believe childhood grief is a serious problem that needs more attention from schools.

Introducing Camp Good Mourning!, a Huntington, NY-based 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides FREE weekend grief camp programs for Long island children coping with the death of a parent or sibling.

Camp Good Mourning! takes place in a traditional camp setting with one extra special component – grief support groups. Each support group focuses on a different theme including, but not limited to, sharing one’s grief story, identifying and exploring feelings, identifying healthy as well as unhealthy coping skills, and learning ways to stay connected to loved ones even though they are no longer physically with them. Just as important, we encourage campers to stay in touch with new camp friends in between camp to create their own "community of support."

Camp Good Mourning! is UNIQUE in several ways. It is Long Island’s only children’s grief camp that:
• Includes an overnight stay. The sleepover component is critical in helping campers to build bonds and forge lasting friendships.
• Operates in the Spring and Fall to fill the gaps in services. Other camps only operate in the summer -- but grief is not limited to July and August.
• Offers at least two camps per year. All other camps only offer one camp experience.
• Serves children 7 - 17, the widest chronological age span in the immediate area

Camp Good Mourning! takes place at Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck in Center Moriches, NY — a small south shore town between Patchogue and Westhampton. CAMP PQT has all-season cabins, a playground, a petting farm, a fishing pond, and lots of open space and energizing activities for campers.

On September 1, 2021, Newsday published a flattering full-page article about Camp Good Mourning! with powerful impact statements from camper parents. We encourage you to read it.

On February, 2022, CBS 2 News profiled Camp Good Mourning!

On November 19, 2022, Town of Hempstead Town Clerk, Kate Murray presented Camp Good Mourning! with a Certificate of Recognition for its outstanding work with grieving Long Island children.

New York Life Insurance’s Long Island office declared Camp Good Mourning! its "2023 Giving Campaign’s Charity of Choice," and will match its employees’ donations, dollar for dollar!

Camp Good Mourning! has earned the SILVER SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY from Guidestar, the world's largest source of information about nonprofit organizations.

What are your organization's social media pages or handles?
FB: @campgoodmourning; IG: @campgoodmourningli; LinkedIn

Do you help run a charity?

Nominate it here or share this link with someone who does.