co-founder

The Cove Helps Grieving Children Seek Help

The Cove Center for Grieving Children held its 21st annual Run for The Cove 5K Sunday morning. The organization offers free services for children ages six to 17 years old to help them grieve the loss of a parent or a sibling.

Christina Herrick and her daughter, Phoebe Schechner, walked in honor of two family members. “We’re walking not only in memory of my husband who passed 14 years ago, but now [my son] Evan,” says Herrick.

Evan Herrick Shechner died one month ago at 18 years old. Evan and Phoebe lost their father as toddlers and used services through The Cove to help them grieve. “Even though I don’t remember in the moment,” says Phoebe, “I still have so many people here that come and say hi to me and are always there for me.”

Herrick adds, “It’s not easy to come year after year and feel the loss again, but I do it because I feel really strongly about this organization.”

They’ve walked the 5K over the last 14 years. Co-founder Renee McIntyre says The Cove’s services stand out because they are neither therapy nor lessons. McIntyre says, they are opportunities – like weekend camps – for children to bond with each other and understand they are not alone.

The Cove Center for Grieving Children held its 21st annual Run for The Cove 5K Sunday morning. The organization offers free services for children ages six to 17 years old to help them grieve the loss of a parent or a sibling.

“It’s a way to acknowledge that they’ve had a significant loss in their life,” says McIntyre. “It doesn’t have to define them and it gives them an opportunity to really process, acknowledge.”

Every dollar from the Fun Run, 5K, and Memorial Walk goes to support The Cove’s services. Families receive them for free, but the fee to support a single child, McIntyre says, costs about $1,000. The goal is to create a community for the children, and help them hold onto positive memories of their loved ones.

When it comes to her brother Evan, Phoebe says she will remember his smile. “It’s the same thing when my dad died. They say they always see his smile and his laugh,” says Schechner.

“Yeah,” Herrick adds, “they had the same smile.”

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