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The Center for Hope in Darien, which began 30 years ago to offer support for people dealing with grief, has grown beyond its original mission.
The center started when a woman noticed how little support there was for her neighbor who had cancer. "It started in a church basement, as a critical illness support group, and from there it grew and grew," Director Deirdre Lewin said. "People would come who had critical illnesses, and we would focus on the patients and their families. It naturally evolved into a bereavement group as well."
And since merging with the organization Family Centers in 2005, the center has helped people with more issues than just grief.
"We help people with all kinds of issues, such as marital issues, depression," said Carole Elias, executive vice president for Family Centers. "Anything somebody would go to see a therapist for, we can help them with."
The center houses 12 therapists with various areas of expertise and offers individual counseling, group and family therapy, and couples therapy. It has more than 30 programs, including ones that help senior citizens who can't leave their homes and counselors that help children deal with loss.
"We're used as consultants in schools where there has been a death," said Elias. "And we collaborate with many organizations that help people with need."
One of its biggest events of year is the Hope Lights Lives event, which raises money for the Center for Hope and its Den for Grieving Children. In the fundraiser, people purchase candles, and then light them all on the same day at the same time. "It's absolutely beautiful," said Lewin.
Last year, the event raised more than $110,000. Hope Lights Lives luminary kits can be purchased online here.
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