New Beginnings Grief council meeting in Neepawa

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By Gladys Anderson

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The New Beginnings Grief council has been active in Neepawa since 1999 when it was incorporated as a board to co-ordinate activities when a person faces a loss.  

We acknowledge that a loss can come in a variety of forms whether it is the loss of a person, a job or health.

One of the activities New Beginnings does is to bring Dr Ron Richert, a psychologist from Shilo, specializing in grief, as a guest speaker. Dr. Richert’s workshops are practical and contain helpful tips on dealing with grief or how you might help someone else who has faced a loss.

Dr. Ron Richert will be presenting a workshop on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30pm at the back of the library.  

At the time of loss we are often overwhelmed, feel disorientated and wonder how we will make it through another day.  Our fear is that we will have to forget our loved one, rather it is to see how our loss fits into our new reality.  

We would invite you and a friend to come to this event to hear Dr. Ron Richert speak on “Making Death a Part of Life”.  This seminar will focus on how to go on and create a new existence.

The New Beginnings grief council holds a support group every 18 to 24 months with 5 or 6 people.   When we hold a support group we meet once a week over a five week period and talk about the grief process and how we might work through our loss.

We have a grief support library, of books, articles and DVDs located in Harris Pharmacy near the north door.  The library is a free library available to people of Neepawa and area where people check out the book and return it on an honor system.  There are also small pamphlets which are available to be taken as needed.  We invite people to use the library and subsequently to return the books or DVDs for the use of other people.

The New Beginnings Council have presented the book, Grief in the Workplace by Dr. Alan Wolfelt, a well known author, educator, and grief counselor, to five of the major industries in Neepawa: HyLife; Prairie Forest; Neepawa Hospital; Country Meadows and the School Board.  This book gives practical ideas on how to work with an employee who has experienced a loss.  A book is also available for loan from our library at Harris Pharmacy.

We are a non profit organization who has received money in the past from Whites Funeral Homes, Beautiful Plains Foundation, United Way, Harris Pharmacy Ltd, Manitoba Seniors Directorate, and Neepawa Elks Lodge.  The money is used to bring Dr. Ron Richert for a workshop, to buy books and to mail notes of encouragement to those who have had a loss.

We would thank the Legion Ladies, the Rotary, H.A.N.D Meal program, the Elks and the U.C.T. for their recent support.

The New Beginnings Grief council has a charitable number and is able to issue income tax receipts. We would encourage you to consider making a donation to our group so we can continue to help people deal with their grief.

 For further information or to make a donation to New Beginnings Grief Support call Genie Barnaby 476 2009 at H.A.N.D. or Gladys Anderson 476 3027.