Who We Are
Brighter Days Grief Center is a Minnesota nonprofit organization serving individuals anticipating or coping with the death of a beloved family member. Although we are a Grief Center providing free services and resources, we are so much more than that at our core. We are a community of families turned into volunteers, staff and board that are bound together by our own experiences.
These experiences have inspired us to support and guide grieving families in ways that were not available to us. Our programs are designed to address the financial, emotional and other psycho social aspects of grief. We realize each family member grieves differently, and therefore has different needs. Our goal is to help determine those needs, and provide the resources to compassionately address them.
Overall, we hope to lessen the devastating impact that grief can have on a family as well as a community. By providing a compassionate space for people to gather, with access to crucial programs and services, we will work to help families and communities move forward together rather than apart. We do not take this lightly; we understand that "moving forward" can seem impossible, yet we believe with genuine care and compassion it truly is possible.
Our Approach
We believe that our approach to a holistic model of care will lay the foundation for moving each family in a positive and healthy direction as they learn to live together without their loved one. By partnering with other caregiver and grief-related organizations, we provide compassionate and tailored resources and programs that are specific to each family member. Additionally, we work tirelessly to bring awareness to schools, communities, and organizations to make sure families receive compassionate and appropriate support in all settings.
Youth
We provide access to summer and after-school activities, academic tutoring to stay on track in school, and peer-based events that provide connection to others that have experienced a similar loss. We view this connection as one of the most important emotional aspects of our model of care; knowing that there are others facing a loss can help diminish the level of isolation one typically feels.
Adults
For adults, we offer a more in-depth level of support because we understand that the impact of grief can bring additional stress of legal and financial issues. We provide free consultations with insurance agents, real estate attorneys, and financial advisers. We offer assistance in some of the overwhelming logistics like memorializing social media accounts or filing social security. Additionally, we help to provide grocery cards, pre-made meals, and many other forms of personalized support.
Families
Other offerings focus on overall psycho social wellness such as access to local fitness and community centers, self-care classes, weekend retreats, mental health resources, and family activities. We also offer various events at our center and in the community through our partners and other organizations.
Our Mission
To provide a private and compassionate space for individuals anticipating or enduring the death of a family member; to offer access to professional services and resources; and to instill hope by providing connection to others through peer-based events and activities.
Our Values:
Respect for each other and for anyone that visits our center.
Integrity in the work we do and the words we speak.
Compassion for each person and for every circumstance.
Confidentiality in honoring an individual’s right to privacy.
Why We Matter
On May 17, 2008 I was woken by a knock on the door. I panicked as I saw a police officer outside my door. A mother’s worst nightmare came slamming into reality as the officer relayed the tragic news that my daughter had been in a car accident and she did not survive. Nothing can prepare you for news like this; however, the uncertainty and lack of knowledge of where to get help and support when experiencing loss makes the grief even more unbearable.
Brighter Days Grief Center offers support and resources that provide hope and healing to families who are struggling with grief. I was not aware of the resources that I could tap into for my family nor did I have the ability to even begin the search for them. I am so thankful that Brighter Days Grief Center is here to help other families like mine. To have been handed a card by the officer with a number that I could call would have been a lifeline at a time I felt I was drowning. ~Melody Richards, Mother, Author, Grief Counselor
We invite you to read our testimonials to learn more about what our partners and families say about us.