Healing Hearts, the fourth annual Children’s Grief Camp of Hospice of Chattanooga, sponsored by area Food Lion stores, will take place on Saturday, on the grounds of Chattanooga State Technical Community College at the Center for Business, Industry and Health.

Drawing from nature and the arts, the day long camp allows children who have experienced the death of a close family member or loved one to process their loss with the support of Bereavement Counselors who specialize in children’s grief.

“We are pleased to be sponsoring Hospice of Chattanooga’s Healing Hearts Grief Camp again this year,” said Food Lion Chattanooga North District Manager Roger Blair. “Many Food Lion staff members have volunteered for this healing day for children, and we really understand the importance of honoring the grief children have to deal with and helping them process their emotions in a nurturing setting.”

Camp activities will include creation of a memory box, a grief puppet show with Kids on the Block, expression through movement, and the use of percussion instruments led by Bob Stagner and the Shaking Ray Levi Society. Also joining in the activities will be canine and human volunteers from the Canine Assisted Therapy Program at Hospice of Chattanooga.

Children will participate by age group, with a combined closing event bringing all ages and experiences together. Parents may participate in a special workshop on children’s grief during camp hours.

Healing Hearts is open to all children ages 5 through 11 at no charge.

For more information contact Sue Coulliette at Hospice of Chattanooga, 892-4289, ext. 422.

Throughout its 18 county service area of Tennessee and North Georgia, Hospice of Chattanooga fulfills its unique not-for-profit mission in many ways that benefit the multi-state region, combining care for the spirit, mind and body.

Low income and economically strapped families turn to Hospice of Chattanooga because care is provided irrespective of insurance or financial status. Hospice of Chattanooga offers a PeriNatal program for women whose newborn infants will not live more than a few hours and the only fulltime Pediatric Hospice Team to assist families caring for children with terminal illness in the security and comfort of home.

Bereavement Counseling Services are open to all.