Impact

As we look back this month in celebration of 25 Years of Hope, we thought it was high time to hear from some of the people without whom our work would be totally impossible: Hearts of Hope volunteers. Hearts of Hope volunteers find their way to us through many avenues, but more often than not,…

As part of our celebration of Hearts of Hope’s 25th anniversary, we’re taking a stroll down memory lane every month and sharing some of our favorite stories of hope. And while we’ve got countless examples of lives touched and connections made through the painting and delivery of our hearts, we also want to talk about…

At the Heart of It A Heart of Hope passes through many, many hands from inception to delivery. That means that every act of kindness, now matter how small, has the power to make a difference in others' grief journeys. What we do and share every day can inspire others to do the same, forming…

How it all began It’s January 2026, and just like everyone else, Hearts of Hope is welcoming in a new year.  Typically, that means we’re looking forward: embracing new ideas, new challenges, and new energy for the road ahead. But this January looks a little different. This new year, we’re taking a moment to look…

For her kids, it was magic. For her, it was a turning point. She was the youngest one in the room, and everyone knew it the moment she walked in. Hearts of Hope’s Moving Forward Bereavement Group met once a week for eight weeks, a small circle of a dozen or so people gathered to…

At the Heart of It Caregivers often feel exhausted, isolated, and unrecognized. It’s normal to feel anger, resentment, and guilt as a result of the stress of caring for another. There is no such thing as “perfection” in caregiving. This is a unique experience that can be challenging, but meaningful. Your best is good enough…

At the Heart of It Emotional stress like grief or overwhelm can manifest itself as physical symptoms. Those symptoms can create more stress and lead to something called the “Pain-Stress-Pain” cycle. Working through physical pain with a professional can help create the space needed to process our emotional stress and break the cycle.   I…

Can one form of grief be less significant than another? Here, we’ll explore how non-person losses, while sometimes perceived as “less-than” other forms of grief, can still feel the same. At the Heart of It Homesickness shares many similarities with grief in how we experience it when a loved one dies. Moving forward from homesickness…

Interview by Terry Becker; article by Amy Roberts At the Heart of It When witnessing or assisting with a grief experience, professionals often set aside their own feelings in order to be there for their clients. Society doesn’t always offer validation for pet loss. The connection between pets and their families is real, important, and…

How community service leads to personal healingHearts of Hope provides hope and healing to everyone involved, whether you’re receiving a heart from our organization or creating one for someone else.At the Heart of It• Our events provide healing for participants through therapeutic art and result in ceramic hearts that carry a message of hope.• The…