500 Candles: Luminary Lighting in Memory of Those who have Passed from Covid-19
You are invited to join us on Saturday, March 6th to honor those who have passed from Covid (or complications from Covid). Individuals and families are invited to come at a pre-designated/pre-registered 30 minute time slot between 9am and 5pm. (Or Friday from 3-5pm). (Space limited to ensure safe social distancing).
Write a message or decorate a luminary bag, fill it with sand and a luminary candle and place it in our field. Luminaries will remain lit through Sunday evening. *Please bring your own markers; all other supplies provided. Please join us and help in this expression of remembrance and solidarity in our community. SIGN UP HERE
Created by Andrew Lowery and Justin Maloney
The Hope Floats Mission
Hope Floats is a bereavement and educational center for adults, children, teens, and their families who are grieving, dealing with illness, or facing other life challenges. Our free support services bring hope and healing to those in need.
Dealing with the loss of their son, Denise and Ken Brack opened Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center in 2009 as a resource center for other grieving families on the South Shore and southeastern Massachusetts. Knowing how isolating a loss can be, the Bracks wanted to bring hope and healing to others in their community. Today we offer fifteen free support groups for a variety of losses, helping children, teens, and adults cope with their grief in healthy ways in a safe, confidential setting. Our support groups are led by trained peer facilitators who often have shared experiences.
Support Groups
Our free, peer-led support groups help participants cope with their loss in healthy ways as they process their grief with others who walk a similar road.
Hope Floats provides a variety of groups—several for adults who have lost a loved one to suicide, overdose or addiction, partner-spouse loss, sibling loss for young adults, and for Dads who have lost a child. Mike's Club is our growing support group for children, teens, and their families, including parenting adults. Entire families gather in this setting, which is organized for sibling loss or for the death of a parent/caregiver. Children process their grief through activities, arts and crafts, and games with the help of trained support staff, therapists, and social workers.
Mike’s Club for children and teens who are coping with the death of a parent, caregiver, or sibling
We offer separate groups for children, teens, and parenting adults coping with death-related loss of a parent, caregiver, or sibling. The children process their grief through creative activities, arts and crafts, and games, with the help of our trained support staff. Families are also able to connect with others who are dealing with similar circumstances in a safe and peaceful environment. Parents and caregivers meet to discuss common issues, concerns, and ways to help their children cope. Mike's Club is a free program for children 5-18 years old and led by Hope Floats staff, clinicians and trained volunteer facilitators.
Mike’s Club for children and teens who have an immediate familly member who is dealing with cancer or a life-limiting illness.
We offer a free monthly support group for children with an immediate family member who is dealing with cancer or a life-limiting illness. Creative projects and activities are utilized to help children access their feelings and connect with others dealing with similar situations. We provide a safe space where the families feel supported. Parents and caregivers meet in their own support group to discuss common issues, concerns, and ways to help their children cope. This program is for children 5-18 years old and led by Hope Floats staff, clinicians, and trained volunteer facilitators.
Support retreats and special events
Our day-long support retreats bring together people facing similar losses or illnesses in a nurturing, holistic environment.
Participants engage in yoga, meditation, group discussion, and receive mini-body treatments to help support their self-care and well-being. Recent retreats include those for women undergoing cancer treatments, a retreat for caregivers, and for parents who have lost a child.
Special presentations for the public include topics such as “Coping with Grief,” “Supporting a Bereaved Family Member,” and “Tips for Coping with Grief During the Holidays,” to fostering ongoing connections with loved ones.
Our goal is to raise awareness about grief through education and community outreach.
This encompasses trainings, workshops, and presentations for professionals, educators, and community members.
Grief Resources
Hope Floats belongs to a community of helpers, centers, and therapists offering bereavement support. Here are some trusted colleagues, practitioners, and other sources offering hope.
Workshops and classes
We welcome the public to join our workshops and wellness classes on a variety of topics and healing modalities.
We offer a variety of wellness classes, including Kripalu, Hatha, and Kundalini yoga, Yoga for Grief, Teen Yoga; Reiki Share, meditation workshops, and body treatments by appointment.
Grant & Major Donors
Hope Floats is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity. All of our funding comes from grants, fundraisers, and private donations. See a list of our support groups, retreats, and guest speaker events.
We are grateful for the support from the following organizations:
KIWANIS OF KINGSTON/DUXBURY
2020 Major Donors and Memory Walk Sponsors
Many thanks to our major funders and Memory Walk donors!Gold Sponsors: Goodwill Hunters, Strategic Financial in memory of Jared Quirk, Christo-Tyrrell Insurance, Inc; Dunkin Donuts Hanover/Sardinha Family Trust, IMTRA Corpration, and the Will Golden Memorial Fund. Silver Sponsors: Lally Family in Memory of Michael Lally. Benefactors: Shepherd Funeral Homes. Friends: Cape Cod Select Cranberries LLC, Baystate Insurance Associate; Boerger Law; Kingston Firefighters L2337; Vickery family in memory of Nicole Vickery-Brooks; Anderson/Fleming family in memory of Ian Anderson; and New Awakenings Crystal & Wellness Center.
Memorial Donations
Private donations have been made in memory of the following people who are loved and missed every day.
Donations Made In Loving Memory Of...
Patrick Adams
Lauren E. Aikens
Robert Alberino
Robert J. Alberino
S. Christopher Allan
Shaelyn Marie Allen
Ian Anderson Carol Antonellis Irene Armstrong & Ruth Gens
Michael F. Arthur Peter Augis
Barry
Shauna Barker
William Barker
Michael Barrett
Sam Beattie
K Matthew Benting
Jeffrey Berger
Robert A. Bergstrom Jackie Biagini
Michael Thomas Brack
Joan H. Brack
Michael Brack & Joanie Haskell Brack
Faith Braddock
Barry P. Brady
Grace Brien
Tracey & Brett
Nicole Vickery Brooks
Tyler Ahern Brown Matthew Caldwell
Michael R. Catania Michael Cevoli
Bill Cicchese
Marie Clifford Silva and Daniel F. Clifford Tony Colarusso
Ethan Connelly
John Corr
John C. Corr & Ben Daniels
Andy Craig
Dorothy Marie Creutz
Brain T. Dagle
Gerry DeBiasi, Sr.
Emmanuel Riego Dedios
Dr. William Derrickson Tommy Dilley
Andy DiPasqua
Chris Dodge
Peggy & Carl Erikksson
Heidi E. Ferguson
Mic Flick
James L. Finch
David Forgit
Philip Albert Forsman Patty Gage
Grace
Tom Garrigan Richard Garsh Michael Gastall
Ruth Gens & Cathrine Walsh
Paul Giaccaglia
Ed Gillespie
Michael J. Golden
Will Golden
Jackson William Girouard
Kevin Graden
Nancy, Roger, Brian and Kevin Graden
Carol L. Graham
Brendan Grant
Ivan Greenfield Bobbie Hanson
Susan Harlfinger
Michael Harrington
Douglas Harvey Sr.
Scott Healey Derek Hines
Krystal Hogan
Caden and Colby Hourahan
Ian
Steven Jackman
Bernard Jacobs
Fred Jenkins
Philip "PJ" Jones
Ginny Karbott
Robert T. Keane
Robert J. Keane
Michael Kearns
Matthew Kenney
Brendan Kane Keohan II
Joyce A. Kimball
Larry King Aija Husins
Margaret Laciak Christopher Ladd
Matt LaGreca
Michael Lally
Dot Lamb
Mary B. Lavelle
Jerry & Glenn Lehman
Mark Jr.
Mike, Joanie and Christopher Sheila Mahoney Eric James Malone
Catherine Walsh Marston & Mary Moore
David Manning Jr. & David Manning III
Colleen McCarthy
Kate McCarthy
Jinny McCullough Eric McDonnell
Dennis J. McElhinney Jr. Rev. Cathbert H. Mandell Maggie McKenna
Michael Andrew Moraes
Mary V. Morrissey
Andrew Miller
Ralph and Eileen Miller
Arthur "Skip" Mitton Brian Moriarty David Murphy
David Jude Murphy
Jesse Napolitano Steven Nava
Jamie K. Neal
James & Helen Neylon
Alexandria Norman
Chelsea Nickerson, Brother Bill, Meme & Pepe
Tina Nickerson
David Tully O'Callaghan
Leonard O'Hara and Colleen O'Hara Collins
Caroline Bevilacqua O’Connor
Patricia O'McAlpin
Richard Oler
Jonathan Pettey
John Phillip
Jillian E. Phillips
Melanie Powell
Rebecca Pintabone and Jimmy Tribble
Katie Quellette
Jared Quirk Carole Regan
Rosalyn and Jackson
Katelyn E. Ribbee
Helen Rivlin
Acacia Rizzo
Jonathan Rizzo
Lisa Rizzo
Brianna Rooney
Joyanne Robinson
Paul Rudeen Jr.
Emma Ryan
Molly Ryan Jennifer St. Croix
Bob Shaffer
Marjorie Chagon Shea
Jonathan Sheedy
Milton Steinberg
Norman C. Shepherd
Mary Silvia
Scott D. Simard Robert Smith Suzanne Smith Alvaro Sousa
Ainsley Grace & Garrett Sullivan
Matthew G . Sullivan IV
Shauna Marie Stella
Tony Stevenson & Leah Lorenzetti
Roy A. St. Pierre
Irving and Marjorie Tanner
Patricia Tessier (Patty Pearl)
Keith Thornley
Vinny Traficante
Sara Tucker Daniel James Jewell Tyrcha
Christopher P. Tyrell Rhonda Vickery
Andrew Warhaftig Geoffrey Watt
Paul Weis
Marcie Winokur
Donald Wolff
Brendan Woods
Christopher Wood
Doug Wood
James Wright
J. Douglas Wright
Claire Zisserson
Donations Made In Honor of...
Bill Brack and Jessica Ladd
Ken and Denise Brack Christo Tyrell Family Heather Gray Patrice Wood
All the Hope Floats Angels
Bob Brack
Denise and Ken Brack
Mike Brack
Cora
Jackson Girouard
Kate Otto Macuch
Claire Manganello
Janice Mello
Mike and Regina Quirk
Doug Wright