Grief can be especially difficult around special days...these Dougy December Tips may help

While December can be a time of celebration and fun with friends and family, it can also be especially challenging for adults and kids grieving the death of someone close to them. The Dougy Center developed several tips to help when the pressures of holidays or special days throughout the year can be overwhelming.

Here are a few Dougy December tips. You can find a complete list here, and watch our social media for posts throughout the month.

1. Talk with friends and family ahead of time and set expectations, limits, and hopes for the holiday season. It's okay to say no!

2. Create a personal tradition. Holiday traditions don't have to be big affairs. Choose something meaningful just for you. Many families at The Dougy Center choose to light a candle each morning or night.

3. Make it about someone else. Look for an organization or cause that inspires you to donate or volunteer. Need help deciding? Think about causes important to the person you're grieving.

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Ways to support The Dougy Center

There are many ways you can help support the grieving children and families of The Dougy Center during what can be a challenging season for many. Here are a few:

Help a grieving family today. Because of people like you, our grief support services are free to every child and family member who walks through our door. Please consider making a year-end gift to help grieving children and families today.

Give your time and talent. Consider giving the gift of your time by volunteering at The Dougy Center. Work directly with Dougy Center kids and families as a volunteer peer support group facilitator, help out around the office, support the team at one of our events, or join a committee.

Donate a stuffed animal. A long-standing Dougy Center tradition, every child and teen in our program leaves their last group of the year with a stuffed animal to cuddle over the break. New, medium-sized stuffed animals can be delivered weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to our Portland office (3909 SE 52nd Ave.).

Provide dinner for our Pathways families. Pathways supports children and teens when a family member is living with an advanced serious illness. At the end of each group, families share a meal together, donated by community groups and individuals. Find out how you can help.

For more ways to help grieving families, visit our website. We are so grateful for your generosity, now and throughout the year!

The Dougy Center named one of six national Changemakers

The Dougy Center was recently named one of six Childhood Bereavement Changemakers in the United States. With the goal of improving the future and strengthening outcomes for grieving youth, the Changemakers Collaborative brings together diverse agencies from across the nation to understand how local results from the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) can inform service planning, increase funding, and enhance overall impact. This understanding is key to mobilizing care for the estimated 1 in 17 children in the Portland area who will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18.

The Childhood Bereavement Changemakers initiative was developed by Denver-based grief care organization, Judi’s House/JAG Institute in partnership with the New York Life Foundation.

Tickets are now on sale for the 23rd annual Porsche Boxster Raffle!

Buy at ticket. Help a grieving child. Win a Porsche!
Support grieving families by participating in the 23rd Annual Dougy Center Porsche Boxster Raffle. The lucky winner will drive away in a brand new, 2019 Porsche Boxster valued at $63,440. Tickets are just $100 each, and only 2,000 tickets will be sold. Porsche Boxster raffle tickets make the perfect give for you or for someone on your list!

The winning ticket will be drawn on May 8, 2020 at The Dougy Center Annual Benefit & Auction. And everyone who purchase a ticket will also be entered to win three $500 cash prizes!

How to participate:
■ Purchase a ticket online
■ Order tickets over the phone at 503.775.5683
■ Download the order form and mail with your payment to The Dougy Center at P.O. Box 86852, Portland, OR 97286

Good luck and thank you for supporting grieving children and families!