For families who have experienced the loss of a child, the holidays can pose overwhelming challenges. In an effort to bring support and healing to those families, the Hays Healing Hearts support group will host its annual holiday Children’s Memorial Tree ornament hanging and dedication at Jackie Creamer’s The Dance Studio, 1003 Main, Sat., Nov. 18, at 11 a.m.

Healing Hearts, one of the grief support groups housed within the Center For Life Experience, 2900 Hall St., is open to individuals who have experienced the death of a child of any age.

“Healing Hearts offers hope to parents and families,” said Ann Leiker, CFLE Executive Director. “To gather around the tree and remember those children who have meant so much to these families is an incredibly touching experience.”

Coming up in December, CFLE will present its annual “Service of the Longest Night.” Designed as a service to remember loved ones who have died, the evening allows a space to recognize that community can exist in the midst of grief.

CFLE’s programs include: Healing after Loss; Healing after Loss of Suicide; Healing Hearts and other partnership programs.

As social services in western Kansas continue to be underfunded, CFLE has stepped up to meet the needs of those suffering grief. In an effort to bring much-needed services to the western Kansas region, CFLE has expanded its Healing after Loss group, offering monthly outreach meetings in Hoxie.

In its 17 year history, CFLE has served at least 17,000 people. To sustain and build programs, this holiday season, CFLE launched a GoFundMe site: “17,000 People: 17,000 Reasons,” The name reflects the connections CFLE has made within the Hays community. Meeting its goal, to raise $17,000, will help ensure that CFLE programs are sustained and continue to grow to meet the needs of western Kansas residents.

For more information, visit https://www.gofundme.com/clflehope