A non-profit grief & healing organization dedicated to helping parents and families living with the loss of a child
COPE Newsletter
September and October 2018
The Next Level of Healing is Helping
To all of our COPE families and supporters -

I'm thrilled to connect with you as the proud new Executive Director of COPE Foundation.

In this newsletter we have some great updates on our recent impact and information on the many meaningful COPE events coming up.

Enjoy the reflections below and thanks for your continued commitment to COPE.

- Adam Rabinovitch







In this Newsletter
Words from Lilly
Healing Tip
Calendar of Events
Parent Column
Camp Erin® NYC
COPE Labyrinth
COPE Walk
Volunteer Spotlight
September and October Passings and Birthdays
COPE Supporters

QUICK LINKS
Words from Lilly
COPE President and Founder
 
Dear COPE Families,

Transitioning from summer to fall can be overwhelming under normal circumstances; adjusting to a different work schedule, settling back to school, or reorganizing closets and drawers to hold warmer clothing.

Transitioning into a life without our loved one is monumental. How do we find the tools to go on living? COPE offers us healing tools to help us through our grief with the support of people who understand and care. 

Workshops at Cedarmere in October and coming months include:

  • Art Therapy
  • Walking meditation 
  • Writing group.

You don't have to be creative to partake. Expressing yourself through Art is therapeutic, in the same way that Writing and Journaling are an outlet to express your feelings and thoughts. Walking and being in nature is soothing to the soul and uplifting to the body, mind and spirit. 

Many years ago in my early grief, I remember not knowing how I would get through each day. These healing tools helped me to not only survive but thrive. It's easier to get up from bed and out the door knowing that a group awaits you in a safe, serene, and nurturing space. 

Hoping that COPE can help your tension "fall" away and be replaced with some peace.

Lilly

 
To share your thoughts about this posting, please  click here   to visit our website and enter your comment under the LEAVE A REPLY section.
HEALING TIP
Remembering and Honoring
By Michelle Graff, COPE Clinical Director

Losing a child at any stage, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal or infant death is one of the most traumatic experiences a person can go through. 

On October 25, 1988, the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Movement began in the United States. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month is a time to think about those who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth or the loss of their child.  

Tragically, approximately a million pregnancies yearly in the United States end in early pregnancy loss (1 in 4), stillbirth, or the death of the newborn child.   The loss of a child stays with parents, friends, and family members forever, but it can be challenging for others to truly understand the emotional and physical impact. 

Sadly, these are deeply painful experiences that many families face daily, but they receive little attention. It may be hard to talk about, but the more open we are, the better we can serve bereaved parents and families.
 
Remember that any life, no matter how brief, is meaningful. The COPE Foundation is here to support those who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss.

Join us for group beginning October 22 nd , 2018 from 7-8:30 at the Cedarmere Estate in Roslyn.

Michelle Graff, LCSW
COPE Foundation Clinical Director
(p) 516-274-0540
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN OCTOBER
Monday

Mid-IslandY JCC, 7:00pm

COPE at Cedarmere 7:00pm

East Meadow Library 7:00pm

COPE at Cedarmere 7:00pm

Thursday

For established parents at Jericho Public Library, 7:00pm


Friday

DASHA Flagship, The Galleria in NYC
6:15pm

United Methodist Church in Ronkonkoma 7:00pm

Saturday

COPE at Cedarmere 9:30am

PARENT COLUMN
Adam Cody Metzger
1/14/90-10/31/13 
Adam's mom, Naomi Wolf writes...
I lost my son Adam C. Metzger on 10/31/13 to suicide. His struggle to stay in his body took a toll. He fought so hard to battle a mental illness, bipolar, that eventually took his life. He was 23 years old/young. I feel him around me every single day since his passing. 
He has guided me on a journey that I could never have imagined...
Read more from Naomi about Adam here:
Adam Cody Metzger

CAMP ERIN® NYC
Read our full camp update from Ann and Jamie here: Ann and Jamie's camp update

And here are just some of the Camper thoughts that should warm your heart……….

Camp Erin has helped me in so many ways…..gave me ways to open up.

Before I came to camp I thought I was fine, but realized after talking and listening to myself, I realized I am just different, don’t think the same way, but thats OK - part of the point of Camp Erin….. Counselors were kind, funny, friendly, supportive and ALL UNIQUE!

Camp Erin gave me one of the best weekends of my life. It helped me deal with my grief and be with great guys. Camp Erin will always be in my memory for ever.

COPE LABYRINTH
We look forward to a Fall dedication of memorial bricks on Sunday November 18th which will begin our second circle of love and remembrance.

Dedicated to our children, siblings, and loved ones...COPE is now accepting memorial brick orders.

To place a brick order, please click here or mail with a check to: COPE Foundation, PO Box 1251, Melville, NY 11747

Contact info@copefoundation.org for any questions.
COPE WALK # 16
Many thanks to everyone who was able to join us for an incredible COPE Walk on September 30th.

We walked to honor our children, siblings and loved ones who have passed and to support the COPE families and community.

Here are some great  photos  from the day for you to enjoy and share with your friends and family:


And a huge thanks to all our generous donors and sponsors.

Thanks to your support, we were able to meet - and surpass - our goal and reached almost $30,000 (and counting...)

Your generosity will allow us to continue to sustain and increase our impact...
helping families and parents living with the loss of a child.

See you at COPE Walk # 17 next year!
COPE VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
COPE was fortunate to have the volunteer time and talent this summer of our amazing intern Cassie Radzanower.

Cassie is an undergraduate student at the University of Connecticut. She is majoring in Psychological Sciences with a research focus and plans to attend graduate school in Psychological Sciences after receiving her Bachelor's Degree. She hopes to pursue a career in either psychotherapy or psychopathology.

Click here and contact COPE to learn more about our volunteer and intern opportunities: Contact Us
September and October Passings & Birthdays
Please click here to help us honor and remember the September and October passings and birthdays of loved ones who were taken from us before their time.
COPE Supporters
We thank our generous supporters for making donations to COPE during the months of August and September 2018. Please click here to view donations made in honor of loved ones (go to Donations August and/or September 2018 and COPE Walk Donations)
COPE Foundation
PO Box 1251
Melville, New York 11747
516-832-2673