Cause We Love- Ele's Place Grand Rapids

Sometimes a cause is so compelling, so basic, that we are forced to share it with the community.  Here is your monthly nonprofit discovery post in the series Cause We Love.
Introducing to you Ele’s Place Grand Rapids, a one-of-three branch nonprofit organization who is fully dedicated to creating awareness and supporting grieving children, teens and their families after losing a loved one.

After experiencing the death of a family member or close friend, it is common for children and teens to feel alone or as if they are a burden to others. Loss is an extremely impactful and devastating experience for children to go through, and if difficult issues are not resolved or children  do not cope properly, they can experience complications throughout the rest of their lives. This need directly correlates to the existence of Ele’s Place GR , to support grieving children who are at a high risk of developing problems with life coping skills and/or social and emotional health problems. Starting to feel compelled?
The thought of children suffering over the loss of a loved one is incredibly heartbreaking; Ele’s Place GR offers services to help. Ele’s Place GR offers a bereavement support group, which allows children to interact with others who have suffered similar loss. The bereavement group, led by their professional staff and trained volunteers, uses music, art, storytelling, writing and plays to help with the healing process.
And wait! It gets better. The non-profit organization also provides school programs, support and opportunities for YOU to get involved. These programs offered by Ele’s Place GR help minimize unsolved grief experienced by children and teens, all at no cost for families.
As December 3 marks Giving Tuesday, what better time to get involved with an organization that works so diligently for the children of our community? Baker Holtz, a local CPA firm, has the perfect opportunity for you to lend a hand (or a box of crayons) to Ele’s Place GR. Through their Holiday Give Program, your part is as simple as buying and donating a pack of light bulbs or a few boxes of snacks (see Wish List and drop-site locations below). To get the collection stations started off, Baker Holtz co-sponsors at the drop-site locations can buy a couple of items, and then make sure employees, friends and family understand they can contribute as well. When it’s all added up, it will go a long way in assisting Ele’s Place in serving the children in our community.
Collections will continue through the holiday season and wrap up on December 31 when Baker Holtz and their co-sponsors will deliver our Wish List items to Ele’s Place Grand Rapids. Interested in participating? Sign up to be a co-sponsor and drop-off location by emailing Tiffany Taft at tt***@********tz.com. Once signed up, a member of the Baker Holtz team will drop off a donation box with sign as well as posters to be distributed around the office. Baker Holtz will then add you to the list of co-sponsors in the Holiday Give Program blog.
Wish List
Gift Cards
Amazon.com
GFS Marketplace
Hobby Lobby
Meijer
Michael’s
Target
Items for Group Sessions and Dinners
Ipod
Children’s CDs
Relaxation CDs (instrumental)
Boom boxes (2)
Journals (Adult)
Red felt by the yard (for nametags)
Paper plates, napkins, cups etc. for potluck
Ziploc storage bags
Dish detergent
Bottled water
Juice boxes
Snacks-Individually Wrapped
Children’s Group Items
Paint (watercolor & fabric paint)
Scrapbooking Stickers (Hobby, Seasonal, Feelings, Holiday, Words, Letters)
Foam shapes Bubble Wrap Phone Books
Glitter Glue (all types)
Legos
Hand Puppets
Waterproof Markers (All Sizes)
Pens and Pencils (regular and color)
Permanent Markers (all sizes)
Waterproof Markers (all sizes)
Paper (drawing, cardstock, colored construction paper)
Sculpting Clay
Storage tubs/bins-plastic (variety of sizes)
Office
Copy Paper – 8-1/2 x 11
Red Twin Pocket Folders with business card holder
Blue Twin Pocket Folders with business card holder
HP Print Cartridges
932XL, 933Cayan, 933Yellow, 933 Magenta 9×12 White Catalog Envelopes
Batteries – AA & AAA
Light Bulbs — 40 and 60 Watt
Are you feeling compelled to support the cause? Do you know someone who will benefit from the services of Ele’s Place? Spread the word and get involved today.