Soaring Spirits for Widow Support

I am thrilled to have recently joined the Board of Directors of Soaring Spirits International, a philanthropic organization that supports widowed people. 

Soaring Spirits International is supportive in the following ways. Here are some of the incredible things that the organization does:

• They're inclusive of women, men, non-binary, LGBTQ, people who were engaged but not yet married, and those of all cultures, ethnicities, and faiths. (Many widows’ organizations are only for women who were in a legal, heterosexual marriage, and some are still more exclusive.)

• Offer several annual one- and three-day Camp Widow® programs. In the summer, San Diego Camp Widow allows widows with children to bring them for activities among other kids who have lost a parent, all at no additional registration fee.

• Send a free Newly Widowed Packet to anyone who requests it. The packet provides a checklist of all the administrative stuff that comes with losing a partner. (My friends tell me about a friend of theirs who has lost a spouse or partner. So often, they want to do something, and requesting this packet is something they can do in addition to being present and not giving up on their widowed friend.) 

• Provide a free, weekly virtual program for the newly widowed with guest speakers and grief counselors, as well as a time and place to simply be with others who have recently lost their person, too.

• Hold a free, bi-weekly virtual meet-up for widowed men. This is important as men are a minority in the world of widowed people and have some unique needs.

• Have free virtual meetups for LGBTQ widowed people.

• Provide community and refuge for other widowed people. They are run largely by volunteers who are more seasoned widows who want to help others.

So, next time you have a friend, family member, coworker, or client whose person has died, and you want to do something, request a free Newly Widowed Packet from SSI. They will mail it to you, and you can give it yourself to the widowed person. You can also share the website so the person can access any of the many resources available.