Hope Lives Here, a nonprofit organization that provides a place of comfort for adults in times of loss, will host its first support group from 6:30-7:30 p.m. May 22.  The event will be at the Rutland Free Library, 280 Main St., Rutland.

Hope Lives Here, stands by its mantra: Healing hearts and building hope. It wishes to help cultivate connections between people who are struggling through the same process. Loss can come in many different forms; however, one thing is true — no one should go through loss alone.  They will be providing peer support in the forms of groups and one-on-one.  They have set themselves apart from other bereavement groups in that they want to provide a space for adults struggling with loss to find comfort in connection with others who have in walked their shoes. The organization wishes to provide a place of hope and envisions to one day find a home for Hope Lives Here to create a place of healing that will include therapist, alternative healin,  and group meetings that will bring together those in need of support.

Patty Inwood, the founder of Hope Lives here, lost her son three years ago. She found that she was searching for someone who could understand the pain she felt, someone who could keep her moving forward. Inwood got through with the help of her friends and family.

Because of all of the love and support she received, she now feels that it is her mission to be that person for all of the people out there who need someone to keep them going. After writing a blog about her grieving process, she received an overwhelming amount of comments from people looking for guidance.

“If it is your day one, I wish I was with you and let you know that you’re not alone. I want to be there for you to help you hold the pieces of your heart together until you are strong enough to do it for yourself. And that day will come, as much as you feel it won’t. That day will come. Together, we will get through one day at a time,” Inwood said.

For those of you who are looking for this support or interested in supporting others, contact hope@hopeliveshere.xyz.

Berkeley Wlodarczak