We wish to share a heartfelt thank you to our Buzzy’s Bees fundraising luncheon participants and donors. On October 25, guests gathered at the NW Natural office building in downtown Portland. We were treated to a build-your-own bowl buffet through the generosity of NW Natural, coordinated by Kathleen Dolezal.

The Buzzy’s Bees team focused on sharing a recap of the seven years that we have been pursuing the mission to change the grief culture surrounding the unexpected loss of a young child through outreach, education, and programs offering emotional and financial support. 

Beginning with the Financial Gifts program in 2017 and continuing with the addition of the Give Grief a Voice project in 2019, Buzzy’s Bees has grown. We persisted creatively through the Covid years. As of 2023 we have invited Give Grief a Voice alumni families to join those receiving their art for the first time in a retreat setting. You are welcome to view the slides that share a visual record of this information. You’ll also be able to learn more about our work to cast a wider net, with the goal of reaching more grieving families, through the Gallery Tour and ultimately the publication of the collected stories and art of our Give Grief a Voice families. 

While numbers can give a picture of the growth of the programs, luncheon participants received an opportunity to “hear” from families who have benefited from these programs. Brave volunteers in the group read aloud some samples of the feedback we have received:

• Financial Gifts Recipient:
  We lost our sweet angel on June 3rd of last year, And I can’t even explain how broken we are and will forever be, losing a child is something no parent ever wants to feel and the pain inside is so unbearable, you feel lost alone, every emotion you can think of it hits you, I sat for hrs/days on how are we gonna afford it. I came across Buzzy’s Bees and I was so grateful that there is help like  this out here, I got to pay back my son’s payment plan for his funeral. I appreciate it so much & I thank the lord everyday for coming to us when we needed it.
  – Cheyenne B., mother of Easten-King, Financial Gift recipient 2023

• Give Grief a Voice Participant
  I cannot even begin to describe how much this project has benefited our grief process. From the write up done by the author to the most beautiful, meaningful piece of art I will ever see in my lifetime. It is truly indescribable.”
  – Katherine S., mother of Grayson, GGaV recipient 2020
• Alumni Retreat Weekend
  When I tell people about my experience going to Oregon and being a part of Give Grief a Voice, I tell them that I have never felt more comfortable. It felt like I was at a retreat that my heart needed so much. To be with a bunch of families in an AirBnB that truly understood me was so healing. And then having time separate from my husband to be with other women was such an amazing experience. In my 3 years since my loss I have never had anything like it. I can’t wait to be a part of Give Grief a Voice for all the newcomers for the years to come.
  – Arabella G, mother of Eloise, GGaV recipient 2023

Buzzy’s Bees supporters came through at the luncheon. An anonymous donor offered to match $5000 in a tiered fashion so that every gift could grow. It is with joy and gratitude that we can report the full match was achieved, so the total donated at the event and online was $8867!  Our plans for each year depend entirely on the support we receive from our hive. Budget planning for 2025 will happen in December. If your giving plans include Buzzy’s Bees we welcome the opportunity to include your donation for next year’s programs.  

Donate here and thank you!

You may wish to help in additional ways. When pursuing the publication of the Give Grief a Voice book we received feedback that the book concept and content would offer a much needed resource for grieving families. However, in the world of publishing there is a need to have some kind of data point that there is truly an audience for the intended material.  We believe there is, and you can help us by broadly liking and sharing our content. Be looking for opportunities to pass along the news that Buzzy’s Bees is here to help parents who experience a life-shattering loss.