practical ways to support A loss family

“You cannot remove this pain—but you can Use your time, talents & resources to help your loved one carry it.” - Jamie Stewart

Sitting amidst tragedy without a clear course of action can be very challenging. However, simple and practical gestures often prove most impactful during people's darkest hours. By COLLECTIVELY surrounding loss in the days, weeks, months (and even years) after loss, we can help clear the road ahead of additional and unnecessary hardships and pain for our hurting loved-ones.

EVERYONE has something to offer. We all have strengths, talents, tools, and resources to tap into in a situation like this. Support on a community level does not mean one person attempting to fulfill everything the family needs—that is not practical, nor is it sustainable for the individual. Collective support is a group of individuals coming together to do great things in the name of love and solidarity. Below you will find a few practical ideas on things you can do now to help the bereaved parent(s) in your life.

If you consider yourself the primary support for a loss-family, seek assistance from those around you and be open to accepting help. Get the ball rolling, and then count on your community to keep it in motion. If guidance is needed to get started (or you have an idea you would like input on), please contact us. We are here to help YOU help THEM. To learn more about Walk With Me and how we support each family, please check out our _______ page.

Setup A Fundraising Page

There are countless unforeseen expenses and needs in the wake of loss. One of WWM’s goals is to help soften the blow of some of those demands through Memorial Funds, Counseling Funds, Support Groups, Community Events, Family Advocates, and Memorial Gifts. These specific pages are created to honor the baby (or babies) that passed and raise money to help fund WWM programs. They are a beautiful and tangible way for loss-families to see the community that is standing behind them, as well as the love that exists for their child— even in their absence.

*These fundraising pages are fully set up by our team (on your behalf), are customizable, and only need to be shared to the family's community.  If this interests you, please fill out this form or contact Cile.

Meal Train / Scheduled Meal Deliveries

After losing a baby, getting back to basic life routines can prove to be immensely difficult, and even simple things like getting out of bed or eating can feel overwhelming. Setting up a meal train or arranging a food delivery service provides a tangible avenue for those wishing to help AND gives the hurting family one less thing to worry about. It is also very helpful when extended family or friends are staying with the family, as they can focus their efforts elsewhere.  Below, you will find a few tips based on what has proven effective for our families in the past: 

1. Set up a schedule: Figure out what works best for the family and have meals brought on those specific days. Websites like MealTrain.com can help coordinate this effort. Make sure to note all dietary restrictions and preferences.

2. Coordinate Drop-offs: Arrange for meals to be left in a cooler on the family’s front porch (at designated times). This allows for “contactless delivery” and flexibility for both parties.

3. Use Disposable Containers: Opt for disposable containers so the family doesn’t have to worry about returning dishes.

4. Include Instructions: Provide clear instructions on how to reheat or serve the meals to make it as convenient as possible for the family.

5. Consider Gift Cards: Gift cards for food delivery services or local restaurants can be very helpful, as they allow the family to choose meals according to their preferences and dietary restrictions (and offer much needed variety to their meals).

Flowers, Gifts & Items of Remembrance

Navigating grief is incredibly challenging, and while the gesture of flowers and gifts are well-intentioned, an overflow of them all at once can (sometimes) feel overwhelming. Throughout the first year after a loss, NUMEROUS difficult dates and moments arise where the family needs to feel seen. Instead of only sending a token of support (flowers, cards, and gifts) immediately following a loss, consider sending them throughout the year. Support fades—but grief does not. Be the person who continues to remember when most have forgotten.

To simplify the process of choosing meaningful gifts, Walk With Me offers an Amazon storefront that takes the guesswork out of what to give. Additionally, our Walk With Me jewelry line provides a lasting symbol of remembrance. These pieces are crafted from solid 14K gold by a local jeweler, we understand that the price point might be prohibitive for some individuals. In such cases, pooling resources with other family and friends to gift a custom jewelry piece can be a beautiful expression of collective support. 

Even small gestures of kindness can make a significant difference to a grieving family. For additional resources and support, we encourage you to explore our Family & Friends Resources.