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.
“Providing hope to grieving adults, children, teens and their families”
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.
The goal of our H.E.A.R.T. team is to provide training to raise awareness about grief through education and community outreach. This encompasses grief trainings and presentations for professionals, educators, parents/caregivers, and members of the community.
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.
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 and healing workshops.
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:
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...
- Michael T. Brack
- Joan Brack
- Christopher Ladd
- Alvaro Sousa
- John C. Corr
- Caden and Colby Hourahan
- Ben Daniels
- Brian T. Dagle
- Dorothy Marie Creutz
- Gerry DeBiasi
- Emmanuel Riego Dedio
- Dr. William Derrickson Tommy DilleAndy DiPasqua
- Michael J. Golden
- Chris Dodge
- Peggy & Carl Erikksson
- Heidi E. Ferguson
- Mic Flick
- James L. Finch
- David Forgit
- Ginny Karbott
- Robert Keane
- Michael Kearns
-
Matthew Kenney
-
Brendan Kane Keohan II
-
Joyce A. Kimbal
-
Margaret Laciak
- Christopher Ladd
- Matt LaGreca
- Michael Lally
- Dot Lamb
- Mary B. Lavelle
- Jerry & Glenn Lehman
- Ethan Connolly
- Katie Quellett
- Carole Regan
- Melanie Powell
- Rebecca Pintabone
- Jimmy Tribble
- Jared Quirk
- 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
- Ainsley Grace
- Garrett Sullivan
- Kate McCarthy
- Jinny McCullough
- Dennis J. McElhinney Jr.
- Rev. Cathbert H. Mandell
- Eric McDonld
- Michael Andrew Moraes
- Mary V. Morrissey
- Andrew Miller
- Ralph and Eileen Mille
- Arthur "Skip" Mitton
- Brian Moriarty
- David Murphy
- David Jude Murph
- Steven Nav
- Jesse Napolitano
- Jamie K. Neal
- James & Helen Neylon
- Alexandria Norman
- Chelsea Nickerson, Brother Bill, Meme & PepeTina Nickerson
- David Tully O'Callaghan
Leonard O'Hara and Colleen O'Hara Collins - Caroline Bevilacqua O’Connor
- Patricia O'McAlpin
- Brendan Woods
- Christopher Wood
- Doug Wood
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James Wright
-
J. Douglas Wright
-
Claire Zisserson
- Mary Silvia
- Scott D. Simard
- Robert Smith
- Suzanne Smith
- Ainsley Grace
- Garrett Sullivan
- Matthew G . Sullivan IV
- Shauna Marie Stella
- Tony Stevenson
- Leah Lorenzett
- Sara Tucker
- Daniel James
- Jewell Tyrcha
- Christopher P. Tyrell
- Rhonda Vickery
- Andrew Warhaftig
- Geoffrey Wat
- Leah Lorenzetti
- Roy A. St. Pierre
- Irving Tanner
- Marjorie Tanner
- Patricia Tessier
- Keith Thornley
- Vinny Traficante
- Maggie McKenna
- Paul Weis
- Marcie Winokur
- Donald Wolff
- Philip Albert Forsman
- Patty Gage
- Grace
- Tom Garrigan
- Richard Garsh
- Michael Gastall
- Ruth Gens & Cathrine Walsh
- Paul Giaccaglia
- Ed Gillespie
- Michael J. Golden
- Will GoldenJ
- 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 HogaSteven Jackman
- Bernard Jacobs
- Fred Jenkins
- Philip "PJ" Jones
- Ginny Karbott
- Robert T. Keane
- Robert J. Keane
- Michael Kearns
- Matthew Kenney
- Brendan Kane Keohan
- Larry King
- Aija Husin
- Richard Oler
- Jonathan Pettey
- John Phillip
- Jillian E. Phillip
- Melanie Powell
- Rebecca Pintabone
- Jimmy Tribble
- Matthew G . Sullivan IV
- Shauna Marie Stella
- Tony Stevenson