For five nights, every two weeks, the Imagine facility is abuzz with families gathered together. From the light-hearted activities and atmosphere, the casual observer might not guess Imagine’s mission is to support families dealing with grief.

The New Jersey-based center’s Night of Support (NOS) program offers education and peer support to adults and children coping with the loss of a loved one. NOS is a free service, thanks in part to support from State Farm. Participants become more resilient and learn healthy ways to cope with difficult, painful feelings.

“We provide supper for families on all Nights of Support. They can be together, transition from their day, and have an evening where they don’t have to worry about getting dinner on the table,” says Imagine Executive Director Mary Robinson.

“There is an opening circle and a closing circle at each meeting. It reinforces to participants that they are not alone in their grief. This consistent ritual is an important part of the healing process,” continues Mary. 

During the meeting, there are support group activities. Younger children choose from activities like arts and crafts, making music, or physical play and expression in the Volcano Room. They can also write, draw and talk with their peers and the volunteer facilitators. The older teens and parents spend time in their support group circle and talking.

“The key to adapting after a loss is expressing feelings of grief, whether in talk, play, art or other medium,” Mary says.

Claude Harmon is a NOS participant. His wife Kerry passed away in 2014. He attends Imagine with two of his three daughters, 13 year-old Nyah and 10 year-old Skai. Here is his story…

“You can imagine, I’m at the height [of success], you know what I mean?” remembers Rob. “And then one call. Boom. It’s done.”

In the months and years that followed, Sims struggled with the void left by his father, known in his playing days as the “Gentle Giant,” whom Sims remembers as “a real country man” from Union, South Carolina.

“He was just the best person you would ever meet,” Sims said. “He would take anybody in. He would feed anybody, clothe anybody, anything he could do.”

Finding help, delivering a message of hope

Despite his success in the years following his father’s passing, Sims found himself feeling empty – until he was able to work through his long-standing grief and focus his attention back out to the community, living the way his father would have lived and helping others who suffer loss like he did.

Sims and his family have learned to take their love of Mickey and focus it outward. Now, Sims honors his father by helping others who are on the same journey and raising funds for Cornerstone of Hope so that it can help others find peace.

Cornerstone of Hope, in Cleveland, Ohio, was founded by Mark Tripodi and his wife, Christy, after the loss of their son. The organization is supported by State Farm.

“When we tried to find support in our town, in our community, it was exhausting,” Tripodi remembers. “I’m proud to say that we’ve been in the community for many years now. And all of our programs are geared towards serving grieving children, teens and adults.”

A father’s lasting legacy

And Sims reminds others through his words and deeds what it means to be a father and to leave a lasting legacy: from the memories of a life well lived that children carry, to ensuring the economic security of the family through life insurance and financial responsibility, to doing good works in the community that last long after a man is gone.

“Everybody’s got a time, everybody has got a day when it’s going to be over,” Sims says. “But you leave your mark, just by being the person you are while you’re here and setting your family up for the future.”

(mouse over image below to reveal and click on additional interactive content)