Ghalia Farzat

Hello friends!

If you know me, you know how much I hate running! But, I LOVE Josie's Place because it has been helping children (big and small) to process the grief of death and loss. Maybe that resonates with you too?

I learned about Josie's Place through a sheer coincidence reading What Looks Like Bravery, a book by Laurel Braitman. Something moved inside me and I needed to learn more and be part of this organization. 

For the last two years I was able to witness first hand the impact that Josie’s Place has in the lives of children processing grief for loss of mothers, fathers, grandparents, and siblings. As they process their own grief through art, play, and conversation, they help each other by being a witness, and acknowledging each other, each at their own pace. Equally, I have witnessed the impact in my own life.

So, I'm joining Team Josie's Place in their 5K run :) and as part of that, I'm fundraising ($5000) so that children and their families can continue to receive the support they need to process the grief of loss and death, a very difficult thing to do on one's own. 

Please donate generously to the best of your ability. Here are some ideas:

1. A cup of coffee ($5)

2. A meal out ($15-$30)

3. Nail salon ($40-$80)

4. Hair salon (well depends where but you get the gist :))

Another way to think about it is this: 

+Josie's Place uses a lot of art supplies for kids to express through art. The facility that Josie's Place uses is a rented space in the Sunset district of San Francisco. So your donation will contribute towards a box of crayons or glitter, or next month's rent :)

+ Your donation can be in the memory of a loved one 💚. 

I hope you will donate an amount you are comfortable with and that you will share with others you know to help us reach the fundraising goal. I, Josie's place and all the children greatly appreciate your kindness.

Why do I support Josie's place?

My first memory of death was that of my grandfather. I was 2.5 years old. Though very young, the memory is still vivid of him in his hospital bed. Since then, I’ve lost my friend Aisha in 10th grade, my teachers Marcia, Karen and Bill. In one year I lost two cousins and my grandmother. In recent years I lost my special friend Barbara who was like an auntie to me. And this year, it was Lucy, a feisty beautiful mare that still had so much life in her. Loss leaves a hole inside of us that doesn’t get plugged except by memories. 

Grief can be from personal loss and it can also be from witnessing a world that has lost its humanity when we see children losing their mothers, and mothers losing their children due to war and starvation.  

Please share with friends. Thank you and love you!

More about Josie's Place:

Josie’s Place provides a safe, caring environment that supports San Francisco Bay Area children, teens, and their families who are grieving a death of a parent, close family member or friend through peer to peer support groups. We help families through education, compassion and understanding as they integrate loss into their lives at their own pace. You can learn more at https://josiesplace.org/

Josie's Place is a small organization- we cannot continue to exist without your generosity.

Donations made through this platform are secure and will be remitted directly to Josie's Place. Thanks so much for your support!