The proceeds of this year's Holiday Festival will benefit the Rice Grief Center so that they can increase services to children, families and veterans.

Grief is a natural and universal response to any kind of loss. Everyone's grief journey is personal and unique. The Rice Grief Center strives to bring an individual counseling opportunity to each person who comes forward seeking help.

There is no charge for services provided, and services are available to any person, any age, who are experiencing any aspect of grief and loss.

As children and adolescents experience grief and loss, it is important that young people receive appropriate support in their special journey of grief.

A growing number of children, teens and young adults are seeking services through the Grief Center.

Children, ages 3-18 accounted for more than 34% of visits in 2008.

The Grief Center has been expanding services to veterans.
Military families are being referred for services prior to, during deployment, and after the return of troops.

Concerns range from how family members will cope during the time of deployment to concern about the safety of troops. Following the return of military men and women, many families and soldiers struggle with the change they witness in their loved ones.

Being able to verbalize these concerns with a professional who is not emotionally involved can be very helpful at normalizing some of these feelings.

Military personnel are oftentimes apprehensive in presenting these concerns to the Veterans' Association.

The Grief Center has also expanded services to parents experiencing prenatal and child loss, and persons of diverse cultures. Most recently, services for those touched by the current economic crisis is an increasing area of need.

In 2008, one full-time counselor provided a total of 3,435 client contacts in eight different communities. With travel, scheduling, and outreach with physicians and other professionals, the Grief Center Coordinator is being stretched thin. Funding for an additional counselor will allow more people to be helped through the grieving process - more children, more veterans, more families.