VNA & Hospice offers a variety of bereavement support programs for youth and adults.

Youth Groups

The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens

The Garden provides support to grieving young people ages 5-18, and their families following the death of someone close, including parents, siblings, other family members, or friends. We have an on-site program for the whole family, and support area schools with our outreach program. There are no limits on how, where, or when the death occurred.

Our aim is to give grieving young people a safe place to share, remember and connect with others who are also grieving.

For more information, call us at 413-727-5749.

Adult Groups

Walking Group

An in-person, drop-in Walking Group that takes place at a public park in Northampton. This group aims to meet on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month from 10:30 – 11:30 am. These walks are weather-dependent. After a brief welcome, bereaved adults walk, share, and connect around their grief experience. For location and date information, call 413-727-5749.

Expressive Bereavement Arts Group

This virtual, drop-in Expressive Arts Group meets monthly on the last Tuesday from 5 – 6:30 pm.

This group aims to provide a safe space for each participant to work on a collage aimed at supporting their grief journey using prompts provided. Recognizing that the word “ART” can be scary for some, this group isn’t about what is made, but instead about one’s individual and unique process. Following a short work session, time is allowed for sharing.

Supplies needed include note card-sized paper, magazines, glue, and scissors. Other items and mementos can be used as well. Adults only and free of charge.

For Zoom link and more information, call 413-727-5749.

Book Group

A virtual, drop-in bereavement book group meets every other month on the 2^nd Wednesday from 5:30-7 pm. We discuss, share highlights, and comment on a book connected to grief and loss. Books are chosen at the end of each group. Adults only and free of charge.

For Zoom link and more information, call 413-727-5749.

Previous books include:

• It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand by Megan Devine
• Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief by David Kessler
• Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying by Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush