When Ashley Thomas lost her mother she, like Kate’s Club founder Kate Atwood, was only 13 years old. Being a young teenager is challenging enough during the best of times but can become incredibly difficult when you are missing one of your parents. Unfortunately, at that time there were no programs available for Ashley to find kids in a similar situation. She instead relied upon her family and friends to help her cope with life without a mother.
Ashley came to Kate’s Club as an adult. She found out about the club from a business associate who suggested to her that she should meet the founder of a group that helps children who have experienced a loss similar to what Ashley suffered years before. She met Kate for lunch one day and after talking about the similarities of their situation Ashley decided to participate in Camp Good Mourning. The experience was rewarding for Ashley, and she has been a club volunteer at Kate's Club's center for grieving children ever since.
Ashley feels like not having a mother around to witness the milestones in her life has been the most difficult part for her. Although that can never be replaced, having people in your life who have similar circumstances can help greatly in your ability to recover from such a loss. To Ashley, Kate’s Club is a place that provides lasting relationships with others who can both empathize and support you as your life continues.
Would you like to share your story? Please get in touch with Kate's Club! KC has free grief support with grief resources, grief counseling resources, grief training, and volunteer work in Atlanta and surrounding places in Georgia. Kate's Club is a growing nonprofit in Atlanta with grief specialists for kids and young adults going through bereavement. Our goal is to make a world where it is okay to grieve.