Drew's Story

"My grandmother Patricia basically raised me. She’d pick me up from school every day and take me to our local yogurt place. Every day I’d look forward to the ringing of that final bell, and then run to her waiting car. I can still picture her smile in my head. She was most patient person I’ve ever met, and she would give away her last cent to make sure everyone else was taken care of. Grandma taught me about the joy in serving others and she helped foster my strong faith in God. Everyone who met my grandma instantly fell in love with her, she was that welcoming.

My father, Harold, was larger than life and he always found the silver lining in every situation. He was VERY good a math, and could calculate the taxes of a grocery bill in his head before the cashier could ring up his cart! Throughout his life and with expressions of his love, my dad taught me that sometimes, you have to sacrifice, to do things you don't want to do to make sure your family has what they need.

Grandma and Dad suddenly died only three months a part. And just like that, I lost the two most important people of my childhood. They were my biggest supporters and made me into the man I am today.

My father died in October 2018 from lung disease complications and COPD. In January 2019, my Grandma died from kidney failure, you see, she'd been on dialysis for the last 14 years. They both died before they could meet my daughter. I had never felt so alone, confused and angry.

Donate to Calm Waters

Just two months before my dad died, I'd begun volunteering at the Oklahoma City grief support center, Calm Waters Center for Children and Families. I didn’t know that I’d soon need Calm Waters more than they might need me.  I was a new grief group facilitator, which meant I was trained by the Calm Waters therapists to lead a support group of 15 kids, teens or adults over topics of grief. We met every other week for nine months. The families I helped were carrying so much guilt, shame, depression and sadness. And I was too. But during my volunteer commitment, I, along with the grief support group, learned how to cope with our losses, and how to address our anger and guilt, and simply grieve, and still get out of bed every day.

Give the Gift of Grief Support

I share my grief story with you because I want you to know how much Calm Waters means to me. I'ts been three years since my life forever changed and I still volunteer for Calm Waters, because I KNOW I make a difference in lives of the families Calm Waters serves. I invite you to join me today by investing in Calm Waters with a $100 donation. It’s only because of the support of generous people like you that the dedicated staff and volunteers of Calm Waters are able to sit with each child and adult in their grief journey, and provide much needed mental health support and services for FREE. Please consider making a gift today, in honor of your own father or grandmother.

Drew McKinney, Grief Group Facilitator P.S. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift of $100 or more by June 30 in honor or memory of someone special you miss. Every gift helps a child or family grieving someone they love.

Click here to make your $100 In Honorarium gift before June 30

P.P.S. This year, thanks to the CARES Act, every family has a new opportunity to deduct up to $300 in charitable contributions regardless if you itemize or not. Take advantage of this unique way of giving back to Calm Waters along with having a tax incentive for doing so. For more information and to make an online donation, please visit Calmwaters.org .  - Drew

Calm Waters Center for Children and Families | 405-841-4800 | Calmwaters.org

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