Ke’ili Deal, a past recipient of Kara’s services and a current Board member, shares the impact of our healing work:

I’ve been so fortunate to have Kara in my life for over 25 years now. My mother and I were referred to Kara after my father, Cameron, died by suicide in 1996.

The community of facilitators and other youth that I was introduced to in the peer support group helped me see that I was not alone in my experience and, as a 6 year old, provided me not only the language to describe my feelings, but also the confidence to do so. Through conversation, art projects, and the always popular “steam room”, a place for pillow throwing and the release of the physical manifestations of grief, Kara helped me to cultivate coping skills, resilience, and the desire to support others through their own grief journeys.

I am beyond grateful to have been able to receive services as a client of Kara’s, support others as a volunteer facilitator in a Youth and Family group, and now serve on the Kara Board of Directors. This organization has been incredibly impactful in my own life and I hope to be a small part of Kara doing the same in the lives of others.