Why Ele’s Place Matters to West Michigan (& Us!)

When it comes to your time and money, there are countless great causes in Grand Rapids to which you can contribute. No matter what cause makes you passionate, it's hard to deny the need and importance of non-profits like Ele's Place.

If you're not aware of the West Michigan Ele's place, their mission is simple- they are dedicated solely to helping children and teens work with and through grief. Unresolved grief negatively affects children and teens, contributing to alarming rates of depression, addiction, and violence.

Ele’s Place West Michigan started in 2013 by offering one night of weekly programming. After 8 years, They have expanded their services, helping an average of 100 grieving children and teens each week from dozens of communities.

Many of these kids don't have the resources and support that they desperately need during their time of catastrophic loss, and that's why we would love for you to consider learning more about them and supporting their cause, which is very near and dear to our hearts. That's why we want to share our stories and why we think Ele's Place is a massively important charity to our community.

Laura Hardy:

When I was nine years old, I lost my mom suddenly overnight, which sent my life spiraling. Coming from a rural area, there weren't a lot of resources or support options for my family.  Ignoring this pain and trying to push forward caused anger, resentment, and apathy in academics, which set me on a path that could have been destructive.

I spent years feeling alone and isolated because I didn't know other children who had lost their parents. My school's solution? To put me in a grief counseling group for people who had lost a grandparent with no one else who understood my pain. That only made me more upset and isolated.

Had something like Ele's place existed where I lived, I may have felt seen for the first time in my life. When I first walked into their facility, I was in tears within moments because I realized how special this was, and I wished it had existed for me. That's why I think it's so important for charities like Ele's Place to exist.

Lisha B:

Growing up, I was raised by my mom, grandparents, and my uncle. Without my father, my uncle was my father. He would make it a point to refer to me as "his first daughter."

Yes, he was my uncle, but to me, he was the father I never really had. Unfortunately, September 23rd is a day that I will never truly get over or forget. Since my uncle was an NFL player, his death made sports and news headlines.

Sadly, the media announced his death before our family was notified. I was horrified to learn about his passing through an ex-boyfriend since he heard about it on the radio.

Dealing with grief and loss for anyone is an intense and emotional rollercoaster. Adding in the heightened attention made everything 10x worse. I felt even more alone every single time someone would mention that they knew my uncle. There was not a group where I could talk about losing someone in the public eye so I bottled my emotions for years.

Honestly, I am still working my way through my grief and it has been 13 years. I would have loved an organization like Ele's Place so I could share space with people who understood, without ever saying a word.

We hope you'll take the time to learn more about Ele's Place and consider a donation to their cause. Or, make plans to show up to their event, Courage, Comfort & Cocktails which will be on October 15th. If you know someone who could use their services, you can contact them here.