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"The Highmark Caring Place sessions for grieving children and theirparents or guardians are available at no cost to any grieving family in thecommunity and are conducted to a large extent by trained volunteers," saidHighmark Caring Place Director Terese Vorsheck. "Their support is integral tothe program's success as they create a safe place where children and theirfamilies can know that they are not alone in their grief and understand thathope and healing are possible."
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Volunteers at the Caring Place serve a variety of roles including groupsession facilitators, food servers, family greeters, quilters and more.Volunteers who work directly with the grieving children and adults in thegroup sessions complete an extensive 26-hour training session.
Volunteers who will receive special acknowledgment at the volunteer eventfor their five years of service to the Highmark Caring Place include:
-- Laura Acker, a resident of Carlisle, Cumberland Co., who serves as aSupport Group Volunteer
-- Roni Collier, a resident of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., who servesas a Support Group Volunteer
-- Jane Davis, a resident of New Cumberland, Cumberland Co., who serves asa quilter
-- Nancy Deal, a resident of Dillsburg, York Co., who serves as a SupportGroup Volunteer
-- Karen Fisher, a resident of New Cumberland, York Co., who serves as aSupport Group Volunteer
-- Carol Holder, a resident of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., who servesas a Support Group Volunteer and a quilter
-- Diane Janik, a resident of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., who serves asa Support Group Volunteer
-- Tony Lobato, a resident of Camp Hill, Cumberland Co., who serves as aSupport Group Volunteer
-- Diane Lower, a resident of Halifax, Dauphin Co., who serves as aSupport Group Volunteer
-- Kathy Lucia, a resident of New Cumberland, Cumberland Co., who servesas a Support Group Volunteer
-- Judie Miller, a resident of Camp Hill, Cumberland Co., who serves as aquilter
-- Robbie Brandt Miller, a resident of Lancaster, Lancaster Co., whoserves as a Support Group Volunteer
-- Janet Salerno, a resident of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., who servesas a Support Group Volunteer and a quilter
-- Lisa Smith, a resident of Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., who serves as aSupport Group Volunteer
-- Linda Stailey, a resident of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., who servesas a quilter
-- Sue Wiest, a resident of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., who serves as aquilter
-- Deb Yates, a resident of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., who serves as aSupport Group Volunteer
The Highmark Caring Place, A Center for Grieving Children, Adolescents,and Their Families, provides peer support groups, referral services, adulttelephone support, and educational programs and resources for grievingchildren and families. In addition, consultation services, as well aseducational presentations and resources are available for schools and otherprofessionals in the community who work with children. The Highmark CaringPlace is a community resource, offering services at no charge to any grievingfamily throughout the community.
The Highmark Caring Place operates three facilities, located in Lemoyne,Pittsburgh and Erie. Since the opening of the first Caring Place in 1997, theprogram has served more than 15,000 family members and community partners. TheCaring Place will also be expanding to a four
