“How do you turn away grieving families who finally have the courage to ask for help? Simply put – you don’t. You can’t. We had to find a way to grow and support families in the Princeton community who needed our help”, said Joe Primo, Good Grief’s CEO.
In the fall of 2012, Good Grief expanded from Morristown to Princeton, NJ, by renting space from Trinity Church on Mercer Street. At the time of the expansion, grieving families from the Princeton area were traveling over an hour to the Morristown center to receive support. Good Grief saw a need in the community and knew they had to fill it. Less than a year after the expansion, there was a three-month long waiting list for Princeton families seeking services.
Why? Because Mercer and Middlesex counties have the second and third highest population of grieving children and teens in New Jersey. After 2 years and rapid growth, the need for a permanent Good Grief center in Princeton became clear. In 2015, Good Grief purchased its new home located at 5 Mapleton Road. The building is an embodiment of hope, offering warmth and charm while providing a place for children, teens and adults to cope with their new normal after the death of a parent, sibling, or spouse.
“Good Grief provided a safe place for healing after the death of my husband. I began my grieving process surrounded by people dealing with a similar losses and grief. We are growing and finding our way after such sadness and loss, and that is inspiring and uplifting. Good Grief has helped me see the light at the end of what sometimes feels like an incredibly dark and long tunnel,” said Brannan Berman of West Windsor. Brannon is a three-year Good Grief participant who attends the program with her 7-year-old twin sons.
Looking around Good Grief Princeton home as it fills with children getting ready to attend a Night of Support, Joe Primo reflected, “We see families become themselves again. We see the light come back after a devastating loss. It’s remarkable to think of how far we have come in such a short time.”
At that moment, one of Berman’s twins runs by and Primo stops him, “Hey Ben! Tell me something you learned at Good Grief?” Ben is quick to reply, “I don’t know how to describe it, but I know how to handle my emotions better.” He quickly zoomed off to get a slice of pizza in the café before group.
Primo went on to say, “We still have a ways to go to establish a permanent home here in the Princeton community, but I know we will get there. With the support of individuals, companies, and foundations Good Grief will keep our Princeton doors open. I can’t wait to celebrate the end of our capital campaign when I can say – ‘We did it, Princeton!!! Together, we did it!’”
Good Grief launched a $2M capital campaign of which they have currently raised $763,000 (38% of their goal). For more information on Good Grief’s Princeton Capital Campaign, to volunteer, or to learn more about enrolling, please call 609-498-6674 x8010 or email [email protected].
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Good Grief is respected as a national leader in delivering grief services to children and their families. It is the leading provider of these services in New Jersey, serving over 1,000 children since its founding in 2004. Good Grief is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide unlimited free support to children, teens and families after the death of a parent or sibling. Servicing more than 150 communities, Good Grief operates programs in Morristown and Princeton. For more information www.good-grief.org.
Contacts:
Joseph Primo, CEO Courtney Hodock, Director of Development
609-498-6674 x 8011 609-498-6674 x 8010