Olivia's House: A Grief and Loss Center for Children

Who is hungry!? Big HUGS to alumni family, The McFatridge's, for holding their annual Pit Beef/ Pit Turkey/ Pit Ham sandwich sale to benefit our children’s programs in memory of their mom Pat! Once again they SOLD OUT of the most delicious sandwiches this side of the Susquehanna and successfully raised over $2,000!!! We are so blessed by such wonderful families!

Last weekend, Program Director Julia Dunn took part in the 23rd Annual Conference for the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP), and her head is still spinning with all of the wonderful information gleaned over those three magical days! Keynote speaker Deepak Chopra spoke about his research into Meta-reality, and how our experiences shape the physical world around us. Renowned trauma psychologist, Bessel Van Der Kolk, also gave a moving presentation describing how our mind and bodies are connected, and that to heal trauma, both must be addressed. The insights learned at this conference will greatly benefit the work of our mission, and Julia can’t wait to dive deeper into the field of Energy Psychology!

The Olivian Gala committee has been busy securing items for the upcoming 19th Annual Olivian Gala Auction and we would be remiss if we didn’t give recognition to those who have been so generous. A big thank you to Anderson Car Wash Queen Street for their donation of a deluxe car wash for a year! Remember, Not just clean... ‘Monica’ clean!. Stay tuned as we reveal more auction highlights and information regarding our Olivian Gala on September 25th!

While we are not hosting in-person programs at Olivia’s House quite yet, we ARE getting prepared for that day! We want to send a big thank you to The Rice Family Foundation, as they made it possible for us to hire Riese Interiors to give a much needed refresh to the exterior of our Hanover center. We are anxiously awaiting the moment when we can safely invite everyone back!

Are you feeling relaxed, or is that just our alumni? Last week, Board member, friend of Olivia’s House, and yoga instructor Stacy Hammel led our families in an evening of virtual WINGS yoga! It was wonderful to catch up with families from all different programs past as we stretched, breathed, and relaxed our bodies (which relaxes the mind!). We can’t wait to see everyone at our next WINGS event, and we are sending a big thank you to Stacy for creating such a magical experience!

The staff at Olivia’s House is always joyful to see a familiar face, even if it’s on Zoom! On Wednesday, we met with dear friend, Mark Reed of Shining Star Photo Booth and Shining Star Interactive. If you’ve ever taken a picture in a photo booth at one of our fun events. . . that was all thanks to Mark! Stay tuned for how the staff is collaborating with Mark to create something extra special for the community we serve! https://www.shiningstarphotobooth.com/

As we approach the holiday season, how do we give thanks when we can’t give hugs? How do we share traditions when we fear we are sharing COVID? Olivia’s House has the answer rituals! When there is a major change in your life, be it a loss or a pandemic, it is crucial to develop new, fun, and meaningful rituals that can bring your loved ones together! Stay tuned every week as Olivia’s House offers you a new ritual to try during the holidays. NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR: Did your ...loved one have a favorite recipe they made every holiday? This is your year to recreate it! Even if it doesn’t turn out perfectly, that is a reminder that no one can replace your loved one, but you can always continue to honor them! Have a go at Grandma’s eggnog recipe or Dad’s famous holiday lasagna. . .you might surprise yourself at how much fun it can be to remember those who we are missing. See more

If you are like Leslie and Michelle, you are probably getting into the holiday spirit a little early this year toothey started playing Christmas music November 1! To add an extra dash of spirit to your household this holiday season, considering joining a virtual Carol’s for a Cause concert to benefit Olivia’s House on Sunday, December 20 at 6:30 p.m. from the comfort of your own home. For more information on how to join the virtual concert, please click the link provided. https://www.facebook.com/events/418255772523546/

The Olivia’s House lending library is filled with the best and most recent books on grief and loss for all ages. Since we can’t hand out resources in person, we wanted to share some of our favorite titles so that you can bring the healing words of our favorite books into your own homes! Do we have any fans of The Office in the house? Then Soul Pancake is the book for you! Originally founded by Rainn Wilson (who played Dwight Schrute on The Office), Soul Pancake has grown from this special book into an online organization dedicated to asking real questions and getting real answers! The Soul Pancake book encourages the reader to engage in seeking wisdom and is a thought-provoking resource for the teen in your world.

Interested in building a home or looking for inspiration on how to refresh yours? Consider attending Inch&Co Construction Holiday Home Tour of their newly built French Country Cottage Model Home on December 13 from 12:00 until 2:00. The proceeds from the tour will benefit Olivia’s House. For more information, and to book your tour, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/inch-co-holiday-home-tour-ticke.

It is time to get Spruce’d Up and into the holiday spirit by joining the York Revolution and their Celebration of Trees. The YGS Group has entered the tree wars and dedicated their tree to Olivia’s House. The trees will be displayed socially distant on the concourse of PeoplesBank Park and everyone in the community is invited to vote. Voting will kick-off Friday, November 27 and will be open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Thursday through Sunday until December 20. Please check out The YGS Group’s tree and vote for their Olivia’s House themed tree! To learn more information on the events taking place at Spruce’d Up, please click the link. https://www.yorkrevolution.com/team/news-archive/