We are thankful to Chris Dugan of Manchester Ink Link, who attended our Open House and Ribbon Cutting event and wrote a wonderful feature story about it and our organization. Click here to view the article on Manchester Ink Link’s website or click here to view the article as a printable PDF. The Hippo Press also shared the great news about our new location: it’s online here (page 4) or click here for a printable version. NH Business Review also featured it here – or view a printable pdf here.
Manchester, NH – Friends of Aine, a nonprofit organization providing bereavement support services to grieving children, teens, and families, formally launched its new location at 226 Coolidge Avenue last Wednesday with an open house. It featured a ribbon cutting with Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, New Hampshire State Senator Lou D’Allesandro and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
“Unsupported childhood grief is a public health issue, often leading to negative emotional, behavioral, and physical outcomes,” Craig said. “I appreciate so much—and I know our entire community and state appreciate—Friends of Aine’s dedication to ensuring that children don’t grieve alone.”
Senator Maggie Hassan prepared a letter for the occasion that was read by McKenzie St. Germain, her Director of Special Projects. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Chris Pappas also provided congratulatory letters, which were on display during the event.
Guests enjoyed tours of the four age-specific grief support spaces for the children and teenagers, ages 4 to 18, the organization serves. Friends of Aine’s trained volunteer facilitators help empower children and teens to name and share their experiences, normalize their grief through activities that explore topics related to grief, and learn coping strategies to help navigate their grief.
“Our new home at 226 Coolidge Avenue allows us to increase our capacity of children, teens, and families served by offering multiple days and nights,” explained Christine Phillips, Friends of Aine Co-Founder. “Currently our peer-to-peer support groups take place on Tuesday and Thursday, and we plan to add Mondays, Wednesdays, and a weekend option over the next one to two years.”
For more information about Friends of Aine and its grief support services, visit friendsofaine.com.
About Friends of Aine
Friends of Aine is the only nonprofit organization in New Hampshire whose sole mission is to support grieving children, teens, and families. Through a network of trained volunteer facilitators, its peer-to-peer support programs assist children and teens with sharing their experiences, exploring topics related to grief, learning coping strategies, and not feeling alone in their grief. Thanks to the generosity of donors, there is no cost to families. Friends of Aine also provides training, education, and research to families and professionals. The organization is inspired by Aine Phillips, who died suddenly at the age of eight, and the lack of existing grief support at the time for her surviving sister, Bella. For more information about Friends of Aine, visit friendsofaine.com.
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