Week of 12/29/25

2026 How are we turning another page???

A new year doesn’t arrive with a clean slate for people living with grief. We don’t leave the past behind when the calendar changes. We carry our people, our love, our memories, the weight of all that has happened with us into January and beyond. For some, the new year brings a bit of hope. For others, it brings exhaustion, questions or fear or dread or maybe a quiet sense of survival. It can be shocking to realize you made it through the holidays and then boom, you have to think about a whole new calendar year that your person will not experience. That can be really difficult. There is no right way to step into a new year after someone you care about has died. My hope for you in this new year is self-compassion. You belong here just as you are.

Please join us at a special New Year’s zoom to talk about some of these very real feelings about heading into 2026. Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89339848976?pwd=ayd1jLi4bBYapnBuybFIkmTE7fhDfq.1

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place!

**********IMPORTANT**********

DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP TO VIEW THE LINKS PROPERLY IF VIEWING ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app!

Click here to open the website calendar

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD MEETING CHANGES

Brighton MA meeting on 12/29/25 this month.

Natick MA meeting cancelled for 12/30/25.

Grandparents zoom meeting cancelled for 1/1/26.

Special New Year zoom meeting 1/1/26 in lieu of regular meeting 1/7/26, Robyn Houston-Bean facilitating.

NEW MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT!

After a soft launch, during the holiday months, we are pleased to announce that Louise Griffin and her grief group called Zack’s Team, has joined The Sun Will Rise Foundation! Louise is a proud Lowellian and the President of Zack’s Team Foundation, a nonprofit close to her heart. The foundation is dedicated to breaking the stigma and shame surrounding substance use disorder through education, understanding, and compassionate support. Its main focus is helping families who may not have the financial means to give their loved ones a safe and supportive place to continue their recovery after inpatient treatment. Zack’s Team was founded in the fall of 2014 in loving memory of Louise’s youngest son, Zachary Gys, who passed away on July 19, 2013, from an accidental opioid overdose at just 21 years old. Zachary’s struggle with substance use disorder and the love and loss that followed inspired Louise to turn her grief into purpose, creating a community that offers hope and help to others. Today, Louise is a passionate advocate for education, recovery, and support, using her voice and her heart to make a difference for families walking a similar path. Welcome Louise and her group existing group members! The group meets the 4th Tuesday of the month in Lowell MA. The next meeting is 1/27/26 at 6:30 pm. If you are in the Lowell area, please join us!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

New Event! Pebble Art Workshop Saturday 1/17/26 2:00-4:00pm Sharon MA REGISTER HERE! Have you ever wanted to learn how to create a picture using materials found directly off the beach? Come join local guest artist Kerry Consentino- Vilorio owner of The Orange Jellyfish, who creates beautiful custom pebble art and sea glass designs, for a fun and creative event. Ages 18+ Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier. If cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Registration Required. Questions? Contact Judy Kelly Judy judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557

New Event! Just Claying Around Painting Workshop 2/22/26 10:00 am-12:00 pm Bridgewater MA REGISTER HERE! Join The Sun Will Rise Foundation for a relaxed, low-key creative gathering focused on painting ceramic pieces. A selection of ceramics will be available to choose from. All materials are provided. Ages 18+ Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier. If cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Registration Required. Questions? Please contact Natalie Patricio: 774-955-7752 jeepgirl474@gmail.com

OUR ANNUAL SUPPLY DRIVE

JOIN OUR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

The January 2026 book choice is Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li. We will have a facilitated discussion about it on 1/11/26!

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

NEW DATE! CATHOLIC CHARITIES RETREAT

The Outreach Coordinator for Recovering Connections - Laboure Center asked that we share this retreat opportunity with with our members who are bereaved mothers. TSWR Facilitator Tracy Carter will be a speaker at this retreat. Questions or to register, please contact Jean Barrineau 617-464-8501 jean_barrineau@ccab.org

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 12/22/25

The Longest Night

The solstice is tonight, the longest night of the year. What I like about the solstice is that it’s a quiet reminder that even the smallest bit of light counts. Tomorrow it’s only a few seconds lighter, but it still shifts. It still moves. Grief feels a lot like that to me. There are just these tiny little changes that you sometimes don’t even notice in your grief until much later. Things change. Healing changes. There’s something comforting about knowing we don’t have to do anything for the light to return. We don’t have to earn it or chase it. It just happens. And sometimes that’s enough for right now.

For those of you celebrating Christmas this week, I hope it meets you where you are, not where you feel you should be.

Read more: 7 Tips for Navigating Grief During the Holidays

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place!

**********IMPORTANT**********

DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP TO VIEW THE LINKS PROPERLY IF VIEWING ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app!

Click here to open the website calendar

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Grandparents meeting this week as a makeup meeting on 12/22/25.

Carole Bowers facilitating for Kar-Kate Parenteau for the Spouses/Partners meeting on 12/23/25.

Lowell MA meeting cancelled for 12/23/25.

People in Recovery meeting cancelled for 12/24/25.

Brighton MA meeting cancelled for 12/25/25. Will meet 12/29/25 instead.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Key to Amaze Virtual Reality Experience. Sunday 1/18/26 1:00 pm ET Kenmore Square Boston MA !!!!!!POSTPONED!!!!!!! More info to follow.

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR

Director of Engagement, David Swindell took part in Dad’s Speak Week Live in Dorchester MA, presented by Mothers Against Drugs, Inc. MADMOMS. These fathers shared powerful stories of their healing journeys.

Thanks to the support team (pictured below) that made the Healing Holiday event happen in Salem MA! This was our first collaborative event with Essex County Outreach & Northshore Education Consortium!

OUR ANNUAL SUPPLY DRIVE

JOIN OUR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

The January 2026 book choice is Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li. We will have a facilitated discussion about it on 1/11/26!

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

NEW DATE! CATHOLIC CHARITIES RETREAT

The Outreach Coordinator for Recovering Connections - Laboure Center asked that we share this retreat opportunity with with our members who are bereaved mothers. TSWR Facilitator Tracy Carter will be a speaker at this retreat. Questions or to register, please contact Jean Barrineau 617-464-8501 jean_barrineau@ccab.org

INTO LIGHT SURVEY

LAST CALL!: A quick ask from us! We recently shared info about the INTO LIGHT Project, an art exhibit that honors the lives of people who died due to substance use. Some people chose to participate and some didn’t. Both choices are valid. If you’re willing, we’d really appreciate your voice.

The team behind the project is trying to better understand what made it feel doable for some and not for others. So we created a short, anonymous survey for anyone who considered submitting but decided not to or who had not known about the project being in their state. There are no right answers and no names attached. Just honest feedback that may help make this project feel more accessible in the future.

The project is currently taking submissions now for the Hawaii, Wisconsin & Vermont Exhibits. They have done previous exhibits in AL, CA, CO, DE, FL, IA, MA, MD, NC, NH, OH, OK, PA, TX, UT & VA

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 12/15/25

Not in the Holiday Mood?

This week in a few of our groups, people were talking about how they don’t feel especially “holiday-ish.” Not sad all the time, not happy either, just sort of in the middle. And instead of trying to force themselves into feeling something different, they were honest about it. Other people in the room nodded right away, like, “Yeah, that’s me too.” It made me think about how helpful it is when someone just says the thing out loud so everyone else doesn’t feel like they’re the only one struggling with it. That’s one of my favorite parts of this community. Nobody has to match the season or pretend they’re feeling something they aren’t. We just show up as we are, and somehow that’s enough.

If it’s your first or it’s been many years since your person died, we know that the holidays can feel complicated. Please join us at our special Holiday meeting next Sunday 12/21/25. Spend the solstice, the longest night of the year, with us while we remember our people and support each other.

Watch How Do You Manage the First Holiday After Someone Dies? by Megan Devine

Holding those celebrating Hanukah and missing someone this week in our hearts.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place!

**********IMPORTANT**********

DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP TO VIEW THE LINKS PROPERLY IF VIEWING ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app!

Click here to open the website calendar

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

WEYMOUTH MA meeting cancelled this week.

HANSON MA meeting cancelled for the winter.

Facilitator Rachel Solomon back for Regular Zoom this week 12/17/25

East Boston MA back on schedule this month. Meeting this week due to the holiday.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’s December Psychoeducational Workshop. Tuesday, December 16, 2025 6:30-8:00 pm ET Stories are a way of showing us how we see the world and what is sacred to us. This workshop, led by nationally-recognized storyteller, Meghann Perry, will offer an opportunity to explore a new relationship to the stories of the death of our person. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/changing-narrative-workshop. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

NEW EVENT! Key to Amaze Virtual Reality Experience. Sunday 1/18/26 1:00 pm ET Kenmore Square Boston MA Registration required. Step into a different world with us at a virtual reality gaming experience. In this private group experience, we will be guided by staff as we choose from a variety of VR adventures, from gentle explorations to more high-energy games. No experience is needed and you can participate at your own comfort level. This is a chance to get out and have some time together in a completely different setting. Minimum age is 13 years old or 60" tall. Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier. If cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported.

REGISTER HERE! Questions? Contact Judy Kelly Judy judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR

We had a wonderful afternoon together at the Holiday Party in Canton MA. It was a special time where new and old friends came together in support and companionship. More holiday photos will follow next week!

REMEMBERING OUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS

JOIN OUR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

The January 2026 book choice is Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li. We will have a facilitated discussion about it on 1/11/26!

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

INTO LIGHT SURVEY

A quick ask from us! We recently shared info about the INTO LIGHT Project, an art exhibit that honors the lives of people who died due to substance use. Some people chose to participate and some didn’t. Both choices are valid. If you’re willing, we’d really appreciate your voice.

The team behind the project is trying to better understand what made it feel doable for some and not for others. So we created a short, anonymous survey for anyone who considered submitting but decided not to or who had not known about the project being in their state. There are no right answers and no names attached. Just honest feedback that may help make this project feel more accessible in the future.

The project is currently taking submissions now for the Hawaii, Wisconsin & Vermont Exhibits. They have done previous exhibits in AL, CA, CO, DE, FL, IA, MA, MD, NC, NH, OH, OK, PA, TX, UT & VA

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 12/8/25

Ten Years of Grief Support!

This past week we celebrated ten years of peer grief support for people bereaved due to substance use related causes. It’s kind of unreal to even type that. Ten years ago, on the first Wednesday of December 2015, we held our very first meeting. We weren’t a nonprofit. We weren’t even a real organization yet. Just a small group of people sitting together in their grief, hoping it might help to not feel so alone. And somehow, from that one night, this whole community grew, a place where people feel seen and understood without anyone trying to fix them.

Over the years, hundreds of people have joined in with us just wanting a space to breathe and talk about the person they care about. Many independent facilitators have joined our peer network of support. Now we have over forty groups a month and just as many peer facilitators. There is a whole support system here, waiting whenever someone needs it. Here’s to the next ten years of being there for each other. And as we head into this season of giving, we acknowledge that there are other ways of being there for others so we are collecting some essentials for our neighbors experiencing homelessness. So often they are people experiencing substance use related issues. If you’d like to be part of that collection, details are below.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place!

**********IMPORTANT**********

DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP TO VIEW THE LINKS PROPERLY IF VIEWING ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app!

Click here to open the website calendar

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

New location for Worcester MA group! 172 Shrewsbury St

Kingston MA meeting will meet via zoom for the winter.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

HOLIDAY PARTY Saturday, December 13, 2025 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Canton MA Take a break from the holiday rush and join us for an afternoon together. This will be a simple, welcoming time to connect with others who understand. We will eat a meal together, share stories and enjoy some gentle company during the season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll also have an ornament making activity. If you’d like, please bring along a favorite dessert of your person’s to share! Everything else will be provided. Come as you are, it’s about being together and finding a bit of warmth and support during this time of year.

Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Registration Required. Please let us know of any food allergies. For questions, contact Cindy Kaplan at (508) 269-8428 cinkap56@gmail.com

HEALING FOR THE HOLIDAYS Saturday, December 13, 2025 4:00 PM-6:00 PM SALEM MA Join us for a comforting evening of connection and creativity this holiday season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll share a meal together and take part in two meaningful activities, creating cards of hope and encouragement to be delivered to individuals currently in addition treatment and decorating ornaments in remembrance of our people who have died. It’s a gentle space to give, reflect, and find healing through kindness and community.

There is no cost to take part in this activity. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Please let us know of any food allergies. Registration required or RSVP to Nike. For questions, please contact Nike Laskaris 617-333-1794 nlaskaris@essexcountyoutreach.com

SADOD’s December Psychoeducational Workshop. Tuesday, December 16, 2025 6:30-8:00 pm ET Stories are a way of showing us how we see the world and what is sacred to us. This workshop, led by nationally-recognized storyteller, Meghann Perry, will offer an opportunity to explore a new relationship to the stories of the death of our person. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/changing-narrative-workshop. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

Join us for a special holiday season zoom group, Sunday December 21, 2025 6:30-8:00pm ET. Kathi Sullivan facilitating. Join via zoom.

JOIN OUR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

The December book choice is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. We will have a facilitated discussion about it on 12/14/25!

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

INTO LIGHT SURVEY

A quick ask from us! We recently shared info about the INTO LIGHT Project, an art exhibit that honors the lives of people who died due to substance use. Some people chose to participate and some didn’t. Both choices are valid. If you’re willing, we’d really appreciate your voice.

The team behind the project is trying to better understand what made it feel doable for some and not for others. So we created a short, anonymous survey for anyone who considered submitting but decided not to or who had not known about the project being in their state. There are no right answers and no names attached. Just honest feedback that may help make this project feel more accessible in the future.

The project is currently taking submissions now for the Hawaii, Wisconsin & Vermont Exhibits. They have done previous exhibits in AL, CA, CO, DE, FL, IA, MA, MD, NC, NH, OH, OK, PA, TX, UT & VA

VIGILS, CANDLE LIGHTINGS & HOLIDAY SUPPORT

On December 14th, there will be a number of remembrance services held around the globe. Our facilitator, Kathryn Pierce from The Journey, will be available at the Natick MA event to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes.

That evening The Compassionate Friends also holds their annual worldwide candle lighting. This is not specific to a substance use death. You can search their webpage for an event near you.

David Kessler is holding a three session online holiday support series. Although the first one has passed, you can still sign up for the next two.

STATEWIDE YOUNG ADULT COUNCIL

Looking for a community your age and a chance to support young peoples' mental health? Our friends at The Statewide Young Adult Council (SYAC) asked that we share this with you! SYAC brings together youth and young adults to advise the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and other organizations serving youth and young adults. They are a collective group who work together to find equity and to advocate for each other. They represent youth and young adults ages 16–30 with mental health needs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. SYAC meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month from 3:30–5pm via Zoom. See their website for more information, and follow this link to register: bit.ly/syacdmh

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 12/1/25

Why We Sometimes Lean Into Sadness

There are times in grief when some of us may go toward the things that we know will make us cry or our chest tighten as a way of coping. A song, a picture, a memory we’ve held a hundred times. It isn’t dramatic or intentional. It’s more like a pull. A need. When someone we love has died, the quiet stretches where we feel nothing or numb can be scary. They can feel like distance. And that distance can feel too close to forgetting. So we lean into the sadness because it brings us back to them for a moment. I’ve watched a short video of Nick on replay many times and sobbed. There’s something grounding about it. A reminder that the connection didn’t end, even though everything else changed. If you catch yourself doing this, it doesn’t mean you're stuck. It means you’re human and you’re trying to stay close to someone who still matters with your whole heart. Do you do unexpected things in grief? Tell us about how you cope with your grief on our private facebook page.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place!

**********IMPORTANT**********

DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP TO VIEW THE LINKS PROPERLY IF VIEWING ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app!

Click here to open the website calendar

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Brockton, MA group not meeting this month.

Portland, ME group not meeting this month.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

HOLIDAY PARTY Saturday, December 13, 2025 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Canton MA Take a break from the holiday rush and join us for an afternoon together. This will be a simple, welcoming time to connect with others who understand. We will eat a meal together, share stories and enjoy some gentle company during the season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll also have an ornament making activity. If you’d like, please bring along a favorite dessert of your person’s to share! Everything else will be provided. Come as you are, it’s about being together and finding a bit of warmth and support during this time of year.

Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Registration Required. Please let us know of any food allergies. For questions, contact Cindy Kaplan at (508) 269-8428 cinkap56@gmail.com

HEALING FOR THE HOLIDAYS Saturday, December 13, 2025 4:00 PM-6:00 PM SALEM MA Join us for a comforting evening of connection and creativity this holiday season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll share a meal together and take part in two meaningful activities, creating cards of hope and encouragement to be delivered to individuals currently in addition treatment and decorating ornaments in remembrance of our people who have died. It’s a gentle space to give, reflect, and find healing through kindness and community.

There is no cost to take part in this activity. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Please let us know of any food allergies. Registration required or RSVP to Nike. For questions, please contact Nike Laskaris 617-333-1794 nlaskaris@essexcountyoutreach.com

SADOD’s December Psychoeducational Workshop. Tuesday, December 16, 2025 6:30-8:00 pm ET Stories are a way of showing us how we see the world and what is sacred to us. This workshop, led by nationally-recognized storyteller, Meghann Perry, will offer an opportunity to explore a new relationship to the stories of the death of our person. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/changing-narrative-workshop. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

Join us for a special holiday season zoom group, Sunday December 21, 2025 6:30-8:00pm ET. Kathi Sullivan facilitating. Join via zoom.

JOIN OUR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

The December book choice is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. We will have a facilitated discussion about it on 12/14/25!

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

HOLIDAY TREE OF REMEMBRANCE

For residents of Cape Ann, Essex County MA. A holiday tree of remembrance, grief support gathering. Register with Melissa. See flyers for details.

INTO LIGHT

INTO LIGHT Project, a national non-profit, creates public exhibitions of original portraits and individual stories of people who have died from the disease of drug addiction in locations around the country.

They are taking submissions now for the Hawaii, Wisconsin & Vermont Exhibits.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 11/24/25

WHEN THANKSGIVING FEELS COMPLICATED

For a lot of people in our grieving community, Thanksgiving is not a warm, cozy holiday. It can be a day full of empty chairs, complicated family dynamics, mixed feelings about gratitude with memories that hit out of nowhere. You might be thinking about the last holiday you had together or the years you spent worrying. Your hear people talk about “thankfulness” without them understanding what your life looks like now. If this is you, you’re not doing anything wrong. There is nothing ungrateful about missing the person who died. There is nothing ungrateful about feeling angry, numb or exhausted. You are allowed to feel how you feel. Here are a few ideas to get through the day. And remember we are continuing to offer our free peer led groups throughout the holiday season. Some groups are in person and some are online. We are having a special Pre-Thanksgiving zoom Monday 11/24/25. Our private Facebook page is open 24/7. If you’re having a hard moment, you can post, read or just know there are others awake with you.

To our facilitators: Thank you for showing up month after month. You take on a role that isn’t easy, especially around the holidays and you do it with so much heart. You make these groups possible.

To our group members: Thank you for trusting us with your stories, your tears, your anger, and your love. Thank you for saying your person’s name out loud and for listening to others who are carrying their own heavy days. Every time you walk into a meeting in person or on Zoom you remind someone else that they’re not alone. And if all you’ve ever done, is read this weekly email, we are thankful for you too. We know that our grief community reaches far and wide and we are glad to know you are a part of it.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

If you receive this email weekly, you do NOT have to pre-register for the Thanksgiving zoom.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place!

**********IMPORTANT**********

DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP TO VIEW THE LINKS PROPERLY IF VIEWING ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app!

Click here to open the website calendar

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

EAST BOSTON MA group not meeting this month.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

HOLIDAY PARTY Saturday, December 13, 2025 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Canton MA Take a break from the holiday rush and join us for an afternoon together. This will be a simple, welcoming time to connect with others who understand. We will eat a meal together, share stories and enjoy some gentle company during the season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll also have an ornament making activity. If you’d like, please bring along a favorite dessert of your person’s to share! Everything else will be provided. Come as you are, it’s about being together and finding a bit of warmth and support during this time of year.

Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Registration Required. Please let us know of any food allergies. For questions, contact Cindy Kaplan at (508) 269-8428 cinkap56@gmail.com

HEALING FOR THE HOLIDAYS Saturday, December 13, 2025 4:00 PM-6:00 PM SALEM MA Join us for a comforting evening of connection and creativity this holiday season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll share a meal together and take part in two meaningful activities, creating cards of hope and encouragement to be delivered to individuals currently in addition treatment and decorating ornaments in remembrance of our people who have died. It’s a gentle space to give, reflect, and find healing through kindness and community.

There is no cost to take part in this activity. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Please let us know of any food allergies. Registration required or RSVP to Nike. For questions, please contact Nike Laskaris 617-333-1794 nlaskaris@essexcountyoutreach.com

SADOD’s December Psychoeducational Workshop. Tuesday, December 16, 2025 6:30-8:00 pm ET Stories are a way of showing us how we see the world and what is sacred to us. This workshop, led by nationally-recognized storyteller, Meghann Perry, will offer an opportunity to explore a new relationship to the stories of the death of our person. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/changing-narrative-workshop. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

JOIN OUR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

The December book choice is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. We will have a facilitated discussion about it on 12/14/25!

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

CATHOLIC CHARITIES RETREAT

The Outreach Coordinator for Recovering Connections - Laboure Center asked that we share this retreat opportunity with with our members who are bereaved mothers. TSWR Facilitator Tracy Carter will be a speaker at this retreat. Questions or to register, please contact Jean Barrineau 617-464-8501 jean_barrineau@ccab.org

INTO LIGHT

INTO LIGHT Project, a national non-profit, creates public exhibitions of original portraits and individual stories of people who have died from the disease of drug addiction in locations around the country.

They are taking submissions now for the Hawaii, Wisconsin & Vermont Exhibits.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 11/17/25

CARRYING THEM FORWARD

Olivia (my daughter and the graphic designer for The Sun Will Rise) had her baby. A beautiful little boy. She named him Hank Nicholas Wagner, the middle name after her brother. It was one of those moments that holds both joy and heartbreak at the same time. Grief doesn’t step aside just because something beautiful is happening. It all shows up at the same time. Holding my newborn grandson, I can feel this mix so clearly. There’s the sweetness of new life and there’s the weight of what’s been missing. Nick’s name is now part of a new little person who will grow up never physically knowing him, yet somehow carrying him. That’s the strange and tender part of love after a death. It doesn’t disappear. It shifts. It finds new places to land. Watching the next generation begin while still missing the one who isn’t here is something many of us share. It’s the feeling of being pulled in two directions at once. Joy rising with an ache lingering. Both real. Both true. Love keeps moving forward through us, through our families, through the stories we tell…sometimes through the names we choose. And that’s how we carry them. Not by pretending the pain is gone, but by letting their love live on in the pieces of life that are still unfolding.

Watch more: We don’t “move on” from Grief. We move forward with it. by Nora McInerny

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place!

**********IMPORTANT**********

DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP TO VIEW THE LINKS PROPERLY IF VIEWING ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app!

Click here to open the website calendar

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Liz Driscoll facilitating for Karen Walsh at the 11/19/25 Regular meeting.

Natalie Patricio facilitating for Miriah Corso at the 11/19/25 Sibling meeting.

The HANSON MA group Matthew’s Candle is not meeting at Calvary Baptist Church this week.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

David & Karen Swindell hosted a resource table and David spoke at the 7th Anniversary Celebration of the Butterfly Garden at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston MA. This beautiful garden, with remembrance bricks, is dedicated to the memory of people who have died due to substance use related causes.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’S PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP PANEL DISCUSSION- GRIEVING AMBIGUOUS RELATIONSHIPS: EXES, PARENTAL FIGURES, SIBLING-LIKE FRIENDS AND MORE MONDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2025 6:330-8:80 PM ET Society often extends sympathy and grief support to those who fill traditional next of kin roles to the deceased. However, grief is not limited to these individuals and often, those who suffer most are left without support. This panel discussion will feature individuals bereaved by the death of someone close to them, but not traditional or legal family. An honest conversation will be had that will normalize and validate anyone’s need for grief support, regardless of their relationship to the deceased. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/disenfranchised-panel. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

United Way & SADOD is presenting Navigating the Holidays While Grieving November 18, 2025 6:00-7:30 pm ET A compassionate conversation on coping during the holiday season. Register here. Questions? Contact Laura@sadod.org 

HOLIDAY PARTY Saturday, December 13, 2025 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Canton MA Take a break from the holiday rush and join us for an afternoon together. This will be a simple, welcoming time to connect with others who understand. We will eat a meal together, share stories and enjoy some gentle company during the season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll also have an ornament making activity. If you’d like, please bring along a favorite dessert of your person’s to share! Everything else will be provided. Come as you are, it’s about being together and finding a bit of warmth and support during this time of year.

Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Registration Required. Please let us know of any food allergies. For questions, contact Cindy Kaplan at (508) 269-8428 cinkap56@gmail.com

HEALING FOR THE HOLIDAYS Saturday, December 13, 2025 4:00 PM-6:00 PM SALEM MA Join us for a comforting evening of connection and creativity this holiday season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll share a meal together and take part in two meaningful activities, creating cards of hope and encouragement to be delivered to individuals currently in addition treatment and decorating ornaments in remembrance of our people who have died. It’s a gentle space to give, reflect, and find healing through kindness and community.

There is no cost to take part in this activity. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Please let us know of any food allergies. Registration required or RSVP to Nike. For questions, please contact Nike Laskaris 617-333-1794 nlaskaris@essexcountyoutreach.com

JOIN OUR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

The December book choice is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. We will have a facilitated discussion about it on 12/14/25!

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

DAD’S SPEAK WEEK “LIVE”

MADMOM’S presents Dad's Speak Week “Live” event, Saturday December 13, 2025 1-4 PM Adams Street Library, 690 Adams Street, Dorchester MA This event is free and open to the public. This captivating gathering will feature an extraordinary lineup of strong, courageous men, including, David Swindell (TSWR Director of Engagement and Men’s Group facilitator) who will share their powerful stories of recovery, grief, loss and healing. Each speaker brings a unique perspective on their journeys, showcasing the strength it takes to overcome life's challenges and emerge victorious. The atmosphere will be vibrant and welcoming, filled with uplifting music and entertainment that sets the tone for an afternoon of inspiration. Enjoy light refreshments as you soak in the powerful narratives of resilience, change, and healing. Questions? Email janice@mothersagainstdrugs.org

Community Opioid Funds Listening Sessions

Your voice matters! The Towns of Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Orleans, and Harwich MA are working together to solicit feedback from residents to help make spending decisions. These Listening Sessions are intended to gather input on best use of Opioid Settlement funds and to foster regional collaboration. Join them for in-person and hybrid Listening Sessions! For those unable to attend a listening session at any of the scheduled times, there is also a community survey to collect input. To access the survey online click HERE or scan the QR code Questions? Contact Jo Morrissey at jomorrissey@crescendocg.com LET THEM KNOW GRIEF SUPPORT SHOULD BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF HOW THESE FUNDS ARE SPENT!

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 11/10/25

SOMETIMES THERE ISN’T A SECOND CHANCE

There’s a moment in grief that hits hard. It’s when you realize you don’t get another chance. No do-over, no changing the last conversation, no taking one more picture, no chance to get the relationship on better terms. No fixing or preventing what led to their death. It’s a feeling that can stop you in your tracks. Sometimes it shows up quietly, when you think, “If only I’d known then what I know now.” Other times it comes in without warning. That ache of wishing you could go back, even just for one more ordinary day. We learn, over time, to live alongside the truth that there is no second chance this time. We try to find small ways of continuing the love that didn’t end, even if the story did. If this feeling has been coming up for you lately, know that you’re not alone. Many of us are still learning how to live with the things we can’t change and how to keep our hearts open anyway.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place!

**********IMPORTANT**********

DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP TO VIEW THE LINKS PROPERLY IF VIEWING ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app!

Click here to open the website calendar

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The Kingston MA group Matthew’s Candle is not meeting at Plymouth County Outreach this week.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

Senior facilitator Kerry Bickford led us in wonderful workshop creating special ways of remembering our people during the holidays. Here a few of the lovely creations!

The Sun Will Rise was invited to the South Shore Women Gather for Good quarterly meeting as one of three female-led nonprofit grant nominees. Director Leslie Lagos got to speak about our grief support services and joined in with the other nominees and members to make blankets for Project Linus!

Robyn Houston-Bean, Founder and Michelle Rueda, Facilitator, were asked to participate in the 2025 Simmons University Rize Harm Reduction Summit that included a screening of the Documentary, Recovery City. We were able to discuss why grief support is a form of harm reduction.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’S PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP PANEL DISCUSSION- GRIEVING AMBIGUOUS RELATIONSHIPS: EXES, PARENTAL FIGURES, SIBLING-LIKE FRIENDS AND MORE MONDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2025 6:330-8:80 PM ET Society often extends sympathy and grief support to those who fill traditional next of kin roles to the deceased. However, grief is not limited to these individuals and often, those who suffer most are left without support. This panel discussion will feature individuals bereaved by the death of someone close to them, but not traditional or legal family. An honest conversation will be had that will normalize and validate anyone’s need for grief support, regardless of their relationship to the deceased. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/disenfranchised-panel. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

HOLIDAY PARTY Saturday, December 13, 2025 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Canton MA Take a break from the holiday rush and join us for an afternoon together. This will be a simple, welcoming time to connect with others who understand. We will eat a meal together, share stories and enjoy some gentle company during the season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll also have an ornament making activity. If you’d like, please bring along a favorite dessert of your person’s to share! Everything else will be provided. Come as you are, it’s about being together and finding a bit of warmth and support during this time of year.

Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Registration Required. Please let us know of any food allergies. For questions, contact Cindy Kaplan at (508) 269-8428 cinkap56@gmail.com

HEALING FOR THE HOLIDAYS Saturday, December 13, 2025 4:00 PM-6:00 PM SALEM MA Join us for a comforting evening of connection and creativity this holiday season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll share a meal together and take part in two meaningful activities, creating cards of hope and encouragement to be delivered to individuals currently in addition treatment and decorating ornaments in remembrance of our people who have died. It’s a gentle space to give, reflect, and find healing through kindness and community.

There is no cost to take part in this activity. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Please let us know of any food allergies. Registration required or RSVP to Nike. For questions, please contact Nike Laskaris 617-333-1794 nlaskaris@essexcountyoutreach.com

JOIN OUR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

The December book choice is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. We will have a facilitated discussion about it on 12/14/25!

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 11/3/25

WHEN GRIEF CHANGES OUR REFLECTION

Grief has a way of changing how we see ourselves, sometimes in our mind or even in the mirror or in a picture. You might catch your reflection and feel like you’re looking at a stranger. The eyes look different or the smile looks different. I remember thinking, “Where did the old me go?” and realizing I didn’t have an answer. There’s a weariness or a softness there that wasn’t before. Maybe there’s strength too, the quiet kind that comes from getting through what you thought you couldn’t. I’ve found many glimpses of my old self again, but I don’t think I will ever see myself like I did prior to experiencing deep grief. Take a moment this week to really look at yourself. Not to judge or to fix, but to see. To notice the person who has carried so much and is still here. That’s no small thing.

Read more: Change, Identity Loss and Grief

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place!

**********IMPORTANT**********

DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP TO VIEW THE LINKS PROPERLY IF VIEWING ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app!

Click here to open the website calendar

Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

Some attendees of the Men’s Group gathered at Sagres in Fall River MA for an evening of good food and conversation that reminded them they’re not walking this road alone.

Our Healing Through Laughter, Play & Games event in Weymouth MA, with Meghann Perry Group, offered a space to unwind together and find moments of lightness.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’S PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP PANEL DISCUSSION- GRIEVING AMBIGUOUS RELATIONSHIPS: EXES, PARENTAL FIGURES, SIBLING-LIKE FRIENDS AND MORE MONDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2025 6:330-8:80 PM ET Society often extends sympathy and grief support to those who fill traditional next of kin roles to the deceased. However, grief is not limited to these individuals and often, those who suffer most are left without support. This panel discussion will feature individuals bereaved by the death of someone close to them, but not traditional or legal family. An honest conversation will be had that will normalize and validate anyone’s need for grief support, regardless of their relationship to the deceased. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/disenfranchised-panel. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

New event! HOLIDAY PARTY Saturday, December 13, 2025 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Canton MA Take a break from the holiday rush and join us for an afternoon together. This will be a simple, welcoming day to connect with others who understand. We will eat a meal together, share stories and enjoy some gentle company during the season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll also have an ornament making activity. If you’d like, please bring along a favorite dessert of your person’s to share! Everything else will be provided. Come as you are, it’s about being together and finding a bit of warmth and support during this time of year.

Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Registration Required. Please let us know of any food allergies. For questions, contact Cindy Kaplan at (508) 269-8428 cinkap56@gmail.com

New event! HEALING FOR THE HOLIDAYS Saturday, December 13, 2025 4:00 PM-6:00 PM SALEM MA Join us for a comforting evening of connection and creativity this holiday season. REGISTER HERE! We’ll share a meal together and take part in two meaningful activities, creating cards of hope and encouragement to be delivered to individuals currently in addition treatment and decorating ornaments in remembrance of our people who have died. It’s a gentle space to give, reflect, and find healing through kindness and community.

There is no cost to take part in this activity. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Please let us know of any food allergies. Registration required or RSVP to Nike. For questions, please contact Nike Laskaris 617-333-1794 nlaskaris@essexcountyoutreach.com

JOIN OUR BRAND NEW VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

Just read the first book Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall and we will have a facilitated discussion about it on 11/9/25!

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

RAISING GRIEVING CHILDREN VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS

These are not specific to substance use related grief, but may be helpful for anyone raising grieving children.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week Of 10/27/25

FALL HOLIDAY SEASON BEGINS…

The Halloween displays with ghost/cemetery/death imagery seem to be everywhere and it can stir up emotions we didn’t see coming. For many of us, Halloween isn’t just about fun and candy anymore, it can bring back memories, increase feelings of fear, highlight who’s missing or just feel out of sync with how our hearts feel. If this season feels heavy, that’s okay.

Then, just a few days later, comes the Día de Muertos/Day of the Dead, a beautiful time when people honor those who’ve died by remembering and celebrating their lives by lighting candles, putting out photos, building altars with flowers, food and water and sharing stories. It’s a reminder that remembering can hold both sorrow and love. Whether you feel like stepping back or finding your own quiet way to honor someone, this time of year gives us permission to do what feels right and to hold space for our grief with compassion.

Read more: What Día de Muertos Can Teach Us About Healthy Grieving

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

**********IMPORTANT**********

DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP TO VIEW THE LINKS PROPERLY IF VIEWING ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app!

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The Christian Faith Based group is no longer meeting.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

The Milton MA Coalition & Health Dept. hosted an remembrance event where Robyn Houston-Bean was the keynote speaker and other bereaved mom’s Elaine Rico-Moore and Mary McCole got to share their stories. Katie Moore’s sweatshirt was on topic for the keynote speech!

YOUNG ADULT GROUP MEETUP!

Great evening sharing some delicious Raising Cane’s Chicken and getting to know some new Young Adult group members!

BEREAVED MOTHERS SHARE THEIR WRITINGS

Read Nellie King’s commentary, My only child died of a drug overdose. She's one of 1.1 million Americans lost since 2000

Read facilitator Randi Schalet’s newest published piece, The Backseat is Full

RESEARCH STUDY

This short study is being conducted by Claire Yi who is studying Psychology at Washington University in St. Louisto, explores the effects of expressive writing on the mental well-being of people experiencing grief. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a poetry condition, narrative condition, or control condition where they will write for 15 minutes a day for 3 consecutive days. The control condition will be asked to write about something trivial, like a number 2 pencil, and the poetry and narrative conditions will be instructed to write about their experiences and emotions as someone experiencing grief. They will be asked to fill out surveys measuring their anxiety, depression, social isolation, grief, and mood. The study requires a week of participation and would total around 90 minutes of participation over the week. Participants who complete the study will be compensated with a $15 Amazon gift card. If you are interested in participating or have any further questions, please email Claire Yi c.h.yi@wustl.edu .

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’s OCTOBER PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP- COMFORTING OTHERS WITH VAL WALKER: WHAT TO SAY & DO. Tuesday October 28, 2025 6:30 pm ET. When comforting others in grief, knowing what to say or do can be tough. This workshop will discuss compassionate ways to support those facing loss. Practical tips and real-life examples await! This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/comforting-others-workshop. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

HEALING THROUGH LAUGHTER, PLAY & GAMES Saturday 11/1/25 10am-5pm. Weymouth MA. For ages 18+. Register Required. Our storytelling virtual workshop was such a hit that we brought award winning Meghann Perry back for a full day in-person event! Our bodies, hearts and voices hold and carry so much for ourselves and for others. Spend the day with others in our grieving community. There will be time to play, relax, connect with self and others. We’ll be using theater improv and storytelling exercises but don’t worry - you won’t be on the spot! The Embodied Storytelling method is a gentle, easy, no-pressure series of group exercises. Tap into your inner healer through an essential part of human nature - play - to relax, connect with self and others through joy, and release tension and weight. REGISTER HERE Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Questions? Email robyn@thesunwillrise.org

Virtual Workshop! Setting A Place at the Table November 2, 2025, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm ET. At this time of year, conversations in many of our grief support groups begin to focus on how to include our loved ones in our holiday celebrations. It doesn't feel right to move on without them, and we struggle to find ways to include them. Please join Robyn Houston-Bean and Kerry Bickford as we help you “make a plate” to represent those we are grieving. This plate will be created on a pie plate or dish and set at the table or somewhere nearby to represent the love and memories that will always be present in our hearts throughout the holiday season. You are welcome to join us live as we demonstrate ideas and examples of what this plate might look like. You can either follow along while using your own supplies (list of suggested items) or imagination or just observe and create your own memorial off-screen at another time. We will leave time at the end for you to tell us about your creation and who you are honoring. Register Here! Questions? Email kerry@peersupportcommunitypartners.com

JOIN OUR BRAND NEW VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

Just read the first book Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall and we will have a facilitated discussion about it on 11/9/25!

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

The Sun Will Rise Foundation, 541 Washington St, Braintree MA 02184, USA

Week of 10/13/25

When Grief Makes You Impatient

I’ve been thinking about how grief changes our tolerance for things we used to let slide. Things like a crowded stores or a friend who keeps saying “you’re so strong” or a person who always complains about something small, like the traffic, or the weather, when your whole world has fallen apart. After a death, your patience isn’t what it used to be. And it’s not because you suddenly become unkind, it’s because your heart is carrying so much. The energy it takes to appear “fine” in a world that doesn’t get it can leave you on edge. I remember in earlier grief catching myself snapping at something small and immediately feel guilty. But I’ve learned that this impatience isn’t bad. It’s my body saying, you’re tired, you need space, you’re still healing. Grief demands a lot of us. If you notice that you’ve lost patience for small talk, for crowds, for being “on,” that’s okay. It’s not a sign you’re doing grief wrong. It’s just a reminder that your reserves are low and you need gentleness and understanding from others and yourself most of all.

A few that can help:

• Step back before reacting. When something sets you off, pause and take a slow breath.

• Lower the bar. You don’t have to be endlessly patient, cheerful, or composed. Some days just getting through is enough.

• Use words when you can. “I don’t have it in me right now” is a perfectly fine boundary.

• Notice what drains you. Loud spaces, certain people, too many commitments…pay attention and pull back when you can.

• Find quiet company. Being around others who understand grief lets you breathe without performing patience.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Partner/Spouse group being facilitated this week by Carol Bowers.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

We had a wonderful time learning and connecting at the Rize Massachusetts and Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership’s Conference, Putting The Pieces Together: A convening to mark the $15M in planned settlement investments with other grantees. We are so thankful for the support The Sun Will Rise has received and for the collaborations we have with other organizations and people!

Tabling at the The Family Restored walk in Medford MA!

The annual fall Call Their Name Hike/Walk was a beautiful time to share together. We had a great walk and the weather and sunshine offered us a perfect fall day to meet other people bereaved due to substance use. Watch us on Tik Tok, as we remembered our people by Calling Their Names! Join us at one of our next events or workshops!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

New Event! Join us for a Casual Community Meal before our Young Adult (ages 18-35) Peer Grief Support Group in Medford MA Sunday 10/26/25 5:00-6:00pm! REGISTER HERE! We’ll be gathering outside the meeting space and enjoying some Raising Cane’s! It will be great share a meal, connect and spend time together before the meeting. While this dinner is hosted by our Young Adult Group, everyone is welcome whether you’re part of that group or just want to join for some good food and community. Do you know a young adult who could use some grief support? Bring them to this low pressure event! No need to bring anything but yourself and your appetite. Just let us know you are attending, so we can plan ahead! Come for the chicken, stay for the company & support! Questions? Email Leslie@thesunwillrise.org

SADOD’s OCTOBER PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP- COMFORTING OTHERS WITH VAL WALKER: WHAT TO SAY & DO. Tuesday October 28, 2025 6:30 pm ET. When comforting others in grief, knowing what to say or do can be tough. This workshop will discuss compassionate ways to support those facing loss. Practical tips and real-life examples await! This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/comforting-others-workshop. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

New event! HEALING THROUGH LAUGHTER, PLAY & GAMES Saturday 11/1/25 10am-5pm. Weymouth MA. Register Required. Our storytelling virtual workshop was such a hit that we brought award winning Meghann Perry back for a full day in-person event! Our bodies, hearts and voices hold and carry so much for ourselves and for others. Spend the day with others in our grieving community. There will be time to play, relax, connect with self and others. We’ll be using theater improv and storytelling exercises but don’t worry - you won’t be on the spot! The Embodied Storytelling method is a gentle, easy, no-pressure series of group exercises. Tap into your inner healer through an essential part of human nature - play - to relax, connect with self and others through joy, and release tension and weight. REGISTER HERE Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Questions? Email robyn@thesunwillrise.org

New Virtual Workshop! Setting A Place at the Table November 2, 2025, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm ET. At this time of year, conversations in many of our grief support groups begin to focus on how to include our loved ones in our holiday celebrations. It doesn't feel right to move on without them, and we struggle to find ways to include them. Please join Robyn Houston-Bean and Kerry Bickford as we help you “make a plate” to represent those we are grieving. This plate will be created on a pie plate or dish and set at the table or somewhere nearby to represent the love and memories that will always be present in our hearts throughout the holiday season. You are welcome to join us live as we demonstrate ideas and examples of what this plate might look like. You can either follow along while using your own supplies (list of items with be sent via email after signing up) or imagination or just observe and create your own memorial off-screen at another time. We will leave time at the end for you to tell us about your creation and who you are honoring. Register Here!

JOIN OUR BRAND NEW VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

Just read the first book Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall and we will have a facilitated discussion about it on 11/9/25!

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 10/6/25

Our Young Adult (ages 18-35) Grievers Need Support Too!

Grief as a young adult can be especially hard. It can feel like everyone else is moving forward while your world has changed in ways they can’t see. Friends might not understand and milestones can feel out of reach. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one carrying this kind of grief. But you’re not. Whether you’re balancing school, work, family or just trying to get through the day, your grief deserves space and community.

Join us at the end of the month for a casual dinner of Raising Cane’s in Medford, MA, followed by our Young Adult Peer Grief Support Group. Come meet some new people, share a meal, connect and find support in a community that gets it. All are welcome. And don’t forget, we have a virtual option too! The Virtual Young Adult group meets this Thursday at 6:30 pm ET via zoom! See the calendar below for the zoom link.

Read more: Tips for Young Adults Who Are Grieving

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

NEW MEETING ALERT! New daytime hybrid meeting in Weymouth MA starting this week!

Kingston MA not meeting at Plymouth County Outreach Office this month.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

Tabling at the Shatterproof Walk in Boston!

As a thank you to our outstanding and hardworking event committee, we came together at Third Space Kitchen to make a delicious meal together and then enjoy the creation! Watch our tiktok video about it!

Want to join our volunteer event committee team? Sign up here!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

CALL THEIR NAME HIKE/WALK Saturday 10/11/25 10:00 am Middlesex Fells Reservation Stoneham MA Please join us for our annual autumn walk! We will stop along the way to “Call Their Name” as a way to carry our person with us on this hike/walk. Everyone is welcome…friends, family, kids as well as dogs on leashes. REGISTER HERE so we know how people to expect!

Details about this excursion follow:
1. Directions for parking: Rte 28 Upper or Lower Sheepfold Parking Lot Stoneham MA. Meet at the directory signpost that says “Welcome to Sheepfold” located at the Upper Sheepfold parking lot.
2. Clothing: Wear comfortable walking shoes. Dress for the weather.
3. We will provide water bottles and snack bars.
4. We will walk at a leisurely pace to be considerate of all the people in our group so we can stay together.

We hope you can join us. Contact Judy judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557 if you have any questions or concerns. Rain date will be on Sunday October 12, 2025.

New Event! Join us for a Casual Community Meal before our Young Adult (ages 18-35) Peer Grief Support Group in Medford MA Sunday 10/26/25 5:00-6:00pm! REGISTER HERE! We’ll be gathering outside the meeting space and enjoying some Raising Cane’s! It will be great share a meal, connect and spend time together before the meeting. While this dinner is hosted by our Young Adult Group, everyone is welcome whether you’re part of that group or just want to join for some good food and community. Do you know a young adult who could use some grief support? Bring them to this low pressure event! No need to bring anything but yourself and your appetite. Just let us know you are attending, so we can plan ahead! Come for the chicken, stay for the company & support! Questions? Email Leslie@thesunwillrise.org

SADOD’s OCTOBER PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP- COMFORTING OTHERS WITH VAL WALKER: WHAT TO SAY & DO. Tuesday October 28, 2025 6:30 pm ET. When comforting others in grief, knowing what to say or do can be tough. This workshop will discuss compassionate ways to support those facing loss. Practical tips and real-life examples await! This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/comforting-others-workshop. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

New event! HEALING THROUGH LAUGHTER, PLAY & GAMES Saturday 11/1/25 10am-5pm. Weymouth MA. Register Required. Our storytelling virtual workshop was such a hit that we brought award winning Meghann Perry back for a full day in-person event! Our bodies, hearts and voices hold and carry so much for ourselves and for others. Spend the day with others in our grieving community. There will be time to play, relax, connect with self and others. We’ll be using theater improv and storytelling exercises but don’t worry - you won’t be on the spot! The Embodied Storytelling method is a gentle, easy, no-pressure series of group exercises. Tap into your inner healer through an essential part of human nature - play - to relax, connect with self and others through joy, and release tension and weight. REGISTER HERE Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Questions? Email robyn@thesunwillrise.org

ANNOUNCING OUR BRAND NEW VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

Please join us on Sunday 11/9/25. First book to read is Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall.

FOCUS GROUP FOR WORCESTER MA AREA

To learn about your work and your perspectives about Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs), Dr. Jeffrey Steen of Simmon’s University is inviting service providers (such as case managers, social workers, medical professionals, outreach workers, etc) and peers (recovery coaches, peer specialists, etc) in Worcester MA area to take part in a focus group. If you would like to share your experience & perspective please complete this availability form. To learn more about the study, feel free to reach out to Cal Brantley at cal.brantley@simmons.edu.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 9/29/25

When Cooking Feels Impossible

Grief can make even the simplest meal feel overwhelming. The physical and emotional fatigue of grief can drain the energy it takes to plan, shop, or even just stand at the stove. Our appetites often shift too. Sometimes nothing sounds good, other times only comfort food will do. I remember how hard it was to eat in early grief and how easy it was to fall back on ice cream or other quick fixes for more than one meal. There’s also the possible difficulty of one less person at the table to cook for or with. A daily reminder of their absence. Getting back to your regular cooking and meals can take some time. If someone offers help, say yes and be specific: a grocery run, a pot of soup, a dish for the freezer. These small acts of care can help you stay nourished while you focus on grieving.

Read more- Nourishing Your Body Through Grief: Simple Eating Strategies

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

COMMUNITY HERO AWARD

We couldn’t be prouder!! The Sun Will Rise Foundation Director, Leslie Lagos was honored with a Community Hero Award from the Braintree Community Partnership/Town of Braintree MA for her incredible dedication to people bereaved due substance use related causes. But awards like this can only hint at the real measure of her impact. Leslie doesn’t just lead programs, she changes lives. Because of her work, countless people have found the courage to keep moving forward and believe in what comes next. Thank you Leslie for your amazing heart and hard work!

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

Tabling at the 4th Annual Winthrop MA Recovery Event & Vigil!

Clarity Through Collage! Thanks to the Compass Rose Center for offering a beautiful space to create meaningful collages together. Each collage told a unique grief story. Here is a sampling of some of the collages. Join us at one of our next events!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

NEW EVENT! CALL THEIR NAME HIKE/WALK Saturday 10/11/25 10:00 am Middlesex Fells Reservation Stoneham MA Please join us for our annual autumn walk! We will stop along the way to “Call Their Name” as a way to carry our person with us on this hike/walk. Everyone is welcome…friends, family, kids as well as dogs on leashes. REGISTER HERE so we know how people to expect!

Details about this excursion follow:
1. Directions for parking: Rte 28 Upper or Lower Sheepfold Parking Lot Stoneham MA. Meet at the directory signpost that says “Welcome to Sheepfold” located at the Upper Sheepfold parking lot.
2. Clothing: Wear comfortable walking shoes. Dress for the weather.
3. We will provide water bottles and snack bars.
4. We will walk at a leisurely pace to be considerate of all the people in our group so we can stay together.

We hope you can join us. Contact Judy judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557 if you have any questions or concerns. Rain date will be on Sunday October 12, 2025.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 9/22/25

Artful Healing

Over the past few months we’ve hosted several different types of hands on grief workshops, both virtually and in-person. Each one has shown us how powerful simple creativity can be. Sitting together with markers, scissors, paper, paints and images gives our hearts another way to speak when words fall short.

Our next workshop, Grief Collage Workshop: Clarity Through Collage lets us create something tangible from what feels invisible. Each piece can hold a memory, a hope or even a question we can’t yet name. No art experience is needed, just a desire to spend an afternoon in quiet companionship, making meaning from fragments. Leave with a personal collage that reflects where you are in your grief and a small sense of calm that comes from making something with your own hands.

Whether you joined us for our earlier art based sessions or are coming for the first time, you’re welcome at the table for this workshop on 9/28/25. (registration required) Not local? Search the word “grief” on eventbrite or another event platform for grief events near you.

Read more about why crafting can be helpful in grief: Healing Through Craft: How Making Things Can Help Us Process Grief

with care

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Judy Kelly & Kathy Ernest co-facilitating in place of Darlene Mersereau for the Weymouth MA 9/22/5 meeting.

Carol Bowers facilitating in place of Kar-Kate Parenteau for the Partner/Spouse 9/23/24 meeting with temporary zoom link. See calendar page.

Franklin Cook facilitating in place of Leslie Lagos for the People in Recovery 9/24/25 meeting with temporary zoom link. See calendar page.

East Boston meeting on pause this month.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

Tabling at the 2025 Walk for Hope & Recovery Festival in Weymouth MA

TABLING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Can you help spread the word about our peer grief support? Complete this volunteer form an indicate where you can help out!

• 9/25/25 4:00 PM TO 7:00 PM Fitchburg Health Dept Resource Fair Fitchburg MA

• 9/25/25 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Candlelight Vigil Ipswich MA

• 9/27/25 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM Bridgewater Autumnfest, Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’s September PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP: Memorializing Our Loved Ones Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET One of the best ways to move through our grief is to recognize and honor our loved ones. While we often hear phrases like “gone, but never forgotten,” it can sometimes feel daunting to memorialize our loved ones in a way that feels true to us and true to them. Join SADOD for their September workshop where we will discuss creative, yet practical ways to memorialize loved ones- from blogging to art, nothing is off the table. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/memorializing-workshop.  Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

LAST CALL! Grief Collage Workshop: Clarity Through Collage Sunday 9/28/25 1-4 pm. Barnstable MA. Clarity through Collage invites individuals to gather together and share thoughts, ideas, and wisdom while receiving personal guidance through collage. Each gathering is unique and features different tools of divination and options to collage a variety of objects. At the end of the gathering, we will circle together to share the projects, explore different Oracle and Tarot decks, and reflect on the experience. Guided facilitation by Melanie McMullin Questions? Please contact Kerry Bickford: 1-508-932-1981 kerry@peersupportcommunitypartners.org REGISTER HERE Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 9/15/25

Looking for a Therapist Who Truly Gets Grief

Peer grief support is powerful but sometimes it isn’t enough on its own. Many people find that a therapist can help in ways that a group can’t. People ask us all the time if we know therapists who really understands grief especially the kind that comes after a substance use related death. It’s a fair question. Good therapy can help, but not every therapist is equally skilled in grief support.

I’d love to pull together a list of names from our own community. If you’ve worked with someone you’d highly recommend, complete this form if you’d like to share their name, location, whether they do virtual visits and if you have it, a link or number. We’ll keep it private and use it only to help others in our groups who reach out looking for recommendations.

If you’re starting the search yourself, here are a few places to look:

Psychology Today – Find a Therapist (filter for “grief” or “trauma”)

The Dougy Center (national directory of grief resources) Find a local grief program near your location that may have recommendations

Your local Hospice centers.

Finding the right fit with support takes time. A recommendation from someone who’s walked this road can make it a little easier.

with care

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Hanson MA in-person not meeting at Calvary Baptist Church this month.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

A sampling of the photos produced at Saturday’s workshop: The Opioid Project, Changing Perceptions Through Art & Storytelling. Stay tuned for the the audio & photos combined.

Fall tabling continues with Recoveryfest in Braintree MA

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’s September PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP: Memorializing Our Loved Ones Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET One of the best ways to move through our grief is to recognize and honor our loved ones. While we often hear phrases like “gone, but never forgotten,” it can sometimes feel daunting to memorialize our loved ones in a way that feels true to us and true to them. Join SADOD for their September workshop where we will discuss creative, yet practical ways to memorialize loved ones- from blogging to art, nothing is off the table. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/memorializing-workshop. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org

Grief Collage Workshop: Clarity Through Collage Sunday 9/28/25 1-4 pm. Barnstable MA. Clarity through Collage invites individuals to gather together and share thoughts, ideas, and wisdom while receiving personal guidance through collage. Each gathering is unique and features different tools of divination and options to collage a variety of objects. At the end of the gathering, we will circle together to share the projects, explore different Oracle and Tarot decks, and reflect on the experience. Guided facilitation by Melanie McMullin Questions? Please contact Kerry Bickford: 1-508-932-1981 kerry@peersupportcommunitypartners.org REGISTER HERE Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported.

HEALING THROUGH AWE & WONDER PROJECT

In our newest YouTube video, group member Liz White shares her awe & wonder story, about orbs after her daughter’s death. Learn more about this storytelling project. Would you like to share you awe or wonder story? We would love to hear about it. Sign up here.

POST INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY SURVEY

The Pennington Institute is looking for feedback on all things related to IOAD 2025. Please complete this survey by 9/17/25.

Help Set Up International Overdose Awareness Day Flags

Volunteers Needed to assist with the last of the Purple Flag installations to remember lives the people who died due to overdose in Massachusetts last year. Everyone is welcome. With enough help, setup takes about an hour. Last Installation: Sunday, September 21st at 9:00 am Brigham and Women’s Hospital 15 Francis St Boston MA Questions? Email SOARnatick@gmail.com

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 9/8/25

Supporting the Supporters

This past weekend we brought some of our grief group facilitators together for a retreat at Adelynrood in Byfield, MA. It was a chance to focus on the people who show up month after month to hold space for others. Our facilitators sit with grief every time they lead a group. They listen, they hold silence, they carry stories of heartbreak and love. It’s powerful work but it’s also heavy. That’s why we take time to support them. To give them a place to to focus on their grief and their needs.

At the retreat, we shared time in many ways…quiet reflection, meditation, yoga, memorial activities, creative exercises, dining and playing games together and of course ice cream!

When you participate in one of our groups, know this, the person welcoming you is supported, encouraged and cared for by us and by each other. Because the heart of The Sun Will Rise is peer support and that support is only possible when we take care of the ones holding the circle.

Listen here to a gentle 10 minute meditation for grief & loss that you can do at home.

with care

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Always check the main calendar for the most up to date meetings list.

Kingston MA in-person not meeting at PCOO office this month.

NEW MEETING ALERT

The Auburn group has moved to Worcester! Kathryn Peirce & Katie Bradley are still facilitating. Please join them for this more easily accessible daytime meeting! If you know a griever in the Worcester area, please share this with them!

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

ESSEX COUNTY REMEMBERS

WE NEED HELP MONDAY 9/8/25 TO REMOVE THE FLAGS!

Volunteers Needed in Braintree Monday, September 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM Braintree Town Hall 1 JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree, MA to remove the IOAD flags on the town hall fence. Bring wire cutters or something that will cut through a zip tie, if you have one. We will have some available for use.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

THE OPIOID PROJECT Changing Perceptions Through Art & Storytelling. Saturday 9/13/25 12-4 pm. Braintree MA SOLD OUT! The Opioid Project consists of a 4 hour art making and audio storytelling workshop where participants create collages and share personal stories. The art and recorded stories contextualize and bring to life the human costs of the epidemic. The finished work is hung in community multimedia exhibitions where each artwork is paired with its audio story. NO ART EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! View some samples here. WAITLIST AVAILABLE HERE

SADOD’s September PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP: Memorializing Our Loved Ones Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET One of the best ways to move through our grief is to recognize and honor our loved ones. While we often hear phrases like “gone, but never forgotten,” it can sometimes feel daunting to memorialize our loved ones in a way that feels true to us and true to them. Join SADOD for their September workshop where we will discuss creative, yet practical ways to memorialize loved ones- from blogging to art, nothing is off the table. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/memorializing-workshop.  Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

Grief Collage Workshop: Clarity Through Collage Sunday 9/28/25 1-4 pm. Barnstable MA. Clarity through Collage invites individuals to gather together and share thoughts, ideas, and wisdom while receiving personal guidance through collage. Each gathering is unique and features different tools of divination and options to collage a variety of objects. At the end of the gathering, we will circle together to share the projects, explore different Oracle and Tarot decks, and reflect on the experience. Guided facilitation by Melanie McMullin Questions? Please contact Kerry Bickford: 1-508-932-1981 kerry@peersupportcommunitypartners.org REGISTER HERE Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported.

Help Set Up International Overdose Awareness Day Flags

Volunteers Needed to assist with Purple Flag installations to remember lives the people who died due to overdose in Massachusetts last year. Everyone is welcome. With enough help, setup takes about an hour. Last Installation: Sunday, September 21st at 9:00 am Brigham and Women’s Hospital 15 Francis St Boston MA Questions? Email SOARnatick@gmail.com

COLLEGE PARENTS’ PERSPECTIVES SURVEY

If you have a child attending college who has experienced the death of a loved one, please consider participating in Evermore's Parents' Perspectives Survey. Through this survey, Evermore is seeking to gather parents' perceptions on the experiences of bereaved college students. Ultimately, the goal is to better understand how students' college experiences are impacted by grief and bereavement. All responses are completely anonymous. The survey will take between 5-7 minutes. 

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 9/1/25

This year on International Overdose Awareness Day, our team and so many of you showed up at memorials and events across the state and country. We gathered to remember, to listen, to support and to speak the names of those we love who have died.

Each place we went carried its own feeling from candles glowing, flags waving, voices breaking, stories being told. What stood out most was the courage of our members who stepped forward to share and the quiet strength of those who simply came to be with others and remember their person. Both mattered. Both made the day what it was.

Being together reminded us that grief is hard, but it doesn’t have to be carried alone. There is comfort in community and there is hope in knowing that our people will always be remembered…..

with care

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Please note, a number of groups are not meeting due to IOAD activities, this month. Always check the main calendar for up to date meetings list.

This week’s Regular Zoom moved from 9/1/25 to 9/8/25.

Falmouth MA in-person not meeting this month.

HERE’S SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

Read about the Easthampton MA vigil here.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

THE OPIOID PROJECT Changing Perceptions Through Art & Storytelling. Saturday 9/13/25 12-4 pm. Braintree MA SOLD OUT! The Opioid Project consists of a 4 hour art making and audio storytelling workshop where participants create collages and share personal stories. The art and recorded stories contextualize and bring to life the human costs of the epidemic. The finished work is hung in community multimedia exhibitions where each artwork is paired with its audio story. NO ART EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! View some samples here.

WAITLIST AVAILABLE HERE

NEW EVENT! Grief Collage Workshop: Clarity Through Collage Sunday 9/28/25 1-4 pm. Barnstable MA. Clarity through Collage invites individuals to gather together and share thoughts, ideas, and wisdom while receiving personal guidance through collage. Each gathering is unique and features different tools of divination and options to collage a variety of objects. At the end of the gathering, we will circle together to share the projects, explore different Oracle and Tarot decks, and reflect on the experience. Guided facilitation by Melanie McMullin Questions? Please contact Kerry Bickford: 1-508-932-1981 kerry@peersupportcommunitypartners.org

REGISTER HERE

Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported.

UPCOMING MEMORIALS & VIGILS AROUND MA

The Worcester Red Sox are donating $5.00 to The Sun Will Rise for each special ticket sold for the 9/3/25 game!!!! You must use this LINK to the purchase tickets so that we receive the donation. The day includes a pregame vigil that will begin at 4pm on the DCU Plaza (Gate D). The WooSox are partnering with Support After Death by Overdose (SADOD) and the Sun Will Rise Foundation to bring awareness and to support those affected by substance use.

-$19 third base reserved seating

-$5 of loaded value to any concession or merchandise

-$5 donation to The Sun Will Rise Foundation

OR

-$9 grass berm seating (first come first serve adirondaks)

-$5 donation to The Sun Will Rise Foundation

For remembrance events happening into September, SADOD has a IOAD event locator on their page for events in MA.

For other states and international events search here.

Help Set Up International Overdose Awareness Day Flags

Volunteers Needed in Natick MA to assist with Purple Flag installations to remember lives the people who died due to overdose in Massachusetts last year. Everyone is welcome. With enough help, setup takes about an hour. Second Installation: Sunday, September 7th at 9:00 am Newton-Wellesley Hospital 2014 Washington St Newton Questions? Email SOARnatick@gmail.com

PSCP’S ON DEMAND WORKSHOP LIBRARY

Have you been wanting to attend one of Peer Support Community Partner’s /SADOD’s psychoeducational workshops, but have not been able to make it? They are now offering a subscription-based on-demand psychoeducational workshop library. This means you can watch their workshops at your leisure and continue re-watching them as often as you would like. Their library includes more than 15 workshops and continues to grow each month. Sign up now at www.peersupportcommunitypartners.com/on-demand-subscription Questions? Contact Laura Vargas laura@sadod.org

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 8/25/25

Grief and Sensory Memory

Grief doesn’t just live in our hearts. It lives in our senses. A song on the radio, the smell of the ocean, the taste of a favorite meal or even the way the light falls in a room can bring our person back in an instant. Sometimes these moments feel like a gift. Other times, they knock the wind out of you. And many times it’s both. Theses moments remind us just how deeply our people were part of our lives. My coping tip for when a sensory memory hits, is to try pausing and naming it: “This smell or sound or sight reminds me of them.” It can shift the feeling from being blindsided to being connected. Some people even create a small memory box with items that hold those sensory ties, so they can choose when to visit them. I like that my senses keep Nick’s memory close. They remind us that while death changes the relationship, their presence is still woven into our lives.

~ With care

Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Please note, a number of groups are not meeting due to IOAD activities, this month. Always check the main calendar for up to date meetings list.

Randi Schalet facilitating for Don Regular Zoom 8/25/25.

Natick MA in-person not meeting this month.

East Boston MA in-person not meeting this month.

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, our community came together to honor the lives of those who died due to overdose and other substance use–related causes. We released butterflies in remembrance, said our peoples names out loud and stood together as one big family driven by hope!

Thank you to Pastor John Wilson who led us in prayer, and speakers Michael Nashawaty, Annie Avitabile, Diana Cleary & Fred Viola. Thank you to Jessi Conley & her daughter Emma Wilson for the poem they read (see below) and to Sarah Blacker for her beautiful performance.

An amazing butterfly mural was unveiled that will stand as a permanent memorial to those who have died. Thanks to the Town of Braintree & The Braintree Community Partnership for helping make this day a visible reminder that our people are never forgotten.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

SADOD’s August PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP: The Dualities of Grief: Confronting Mixed Emotions Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET We often speak about the sadness and pain of grief and less often about the dual emotions that sometimes come up. We may feel joy and sorrow, relief and guilt, alone and connected, sometimes all at once and other times in different situations. For many, we have typically thought about emotions as “either you feel one way or you feel another way.” Yet, grief forces us to confront many emotions, some which may appear to be conflicting. In this workshop we will discuss the dualities of grief and how we can make space for all our emotions without feeling guilt or shame over them. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/grief-dualities.  Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

THE OPIOID PROJECT Changing Perceptions Through Art & Storytelling. Saturday 9/13/25 12-4 pm. Braintree MA The Opioid Project consists of a 4 hour art making and audio storytelling workshop where participants create collages and share personal stories. The art and recorded stories contextualize and bring to life the human costs of the epidemic. The finished work is hung in community multimedia exhibitions where each artwork is paired with its audio story. NO ART EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! View some samples here.

The storytelling portion is led by physician Dr. Annie Brewster founder of Health Story Collaborative and the art portion, by visual artist Nancy Marks.

The Opioid Project provides a safe place for those affected by the opioid epidemic to explore and process their personal experiences. Through art making and storytelling and in collaboration with community partners, they strive to decrease stigma and promote positive social change through dialogue, education and advocacy.

Cost: FREE – but requires a $20 per person deposit. You’ll receive the full deposit back at the event. We ask for this to help us continue offering events like this at no cost to you. REGISTER HERE!

Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone.

If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported.

Questions? Contact Robyn at 781-789-4604 robyn@thesunwillrise.org

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Braintree Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Braintree Opioid Abatement Funds have also been used to support this program.

UPCOMING MEMORIALS & VIGILS AROUND MA

There are so many remembrance events happening this month. SADOD has a IOAD event locator on their page for events in MA. If you are hosting an event and would like to add it to the locator, complete this form.

For other states and international events search here.

Help Us Prepare for International Overdose Awareness Day

Volunteers Needed in Natick MA to assist with Purple Flag installations to remember lives the people who died due to overdose in Massachusetts last year. Everyone is welcome. With enough help, setup takes about an hour. Second Installation: Sunday, September 7th at 9:00 am Newton-Wellesley Hospital 2014 Washington St Newton Questions? Email SOARnatick@gmail.com

Volunteers needed in Boston MA Friday 8/29/25 to help plant over 20,000 purple flags on the lawn at Liberty Mall in remembrance of those who have died due to overdose in Massachusetts between 2013-2024, sign up here. Please report at 7:30am to be assigned a task. T-shirts will be provided to volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis. If you volunteered in the past, please wear the shirt you were given and everyone is invited to wear a purple shirt in case t-shirts run out. They kindly ask that volunteers commit to at least two hours, though you are welcome to stay longer. At 9:00am, they expect government officials to arrive for a moment of silence. Resource tables will be present, and media will be in attendance. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TABLING

We are looking for volunteers to staff our grief support resource tables for the many International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) events that are coming up. Please let us know if you can help out at any of these IOAD events by completing this sign up form. More to come!

Aug 26th 4:00pm - Whitinsville MA

Aug 27th 4:00pm - Taunton MA

Aug 27th 5:00pm - Easton MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Great Barrington MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Pittsfield MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Malden MA

Aug 31st 7:00pm - Revere MA

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 8/18/25

Grief Myth Busting

You’ve probably heard people say, “time heals all wounds.” It’s supposed to offer comfort, but for those of us living with grief, that doesn’t always feel true. Time alone doesn’t always heal. What matters is what we do in that time. We tell our stories, find safe places to share, honor our people who have died, connect with others who understand. Those things can help soften the sharp edges of grief. Grief isn’t something we need to get over. It can be something we learn to live with, building our lives around the death, carrying both the love and the grief. I’ve found this grief model to resonate with me. Does this way of thinking about grief resonate with you, too? Share on our facebook page about how you are growing around your grief.

Read more about Tonkin’s grief model.

Make sure to scroll to very bottom of newsletter to read the whole thing!

~ With care

Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Please note, a number of groups are not meeting due to IOAD activities, this month. Always check the main calendar for up to date meetings list.

Winthrop MA meeting on pause.

People In Recovery Weymouth Hybrid meeting will no longer meet. A Regular Hybrid meeting will begin at that location in October.

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR!

What a beautiful afternoon sailing adventure in Boston Harbor aboard the classic schooner, the Liberty Star! We could not have asked for more perfect weather. Our afternoon together brought comfort, connection, new friends. Make sure to join in one our next events or workshops!

A big thanks to all who helped us set up the flags this week in Braintree! It’s a beautiful display. Help is also needed to respectfully take down the flags. Monday, September 8 at 5:00 PM Braintree MA Town Hall

A intimate Butterfly Release in honor of IOAD for our Cape Cod group members was a powerful get together. Sharing these special moments builds community and support. Thanks to Senior Facilitator Kerry Bickford for organizing this event!

Tabling season is in full swing. Thanks to facilitator and event committee member Natalie Patricio for hosting a table for The Sun Will Rise and spreading the word about grief support at Gilly’s House Summerfest!

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Butterfly Release & International Overdose Awareness Day Ceremony. Saturday 8/23/25 10:00 am. Braintree MA. In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, we invite you to take part in our annual Butterfly Release Ceremony. Each guest will receive a live butterfly to release and/or a packet of wildflower seeds to plant in memory of a loved one. This day is a global observance that raises awareness about overdose, honors the people who have died and supports those who live with grief. We gather to remember without shame. We gather to say you are not alone. People with any substance use related death are invited to participate. This year’s theme: One Big Family, Driven by Hope. Cost: Free- but Please RSVP by reserving a ticket for each person wanting to release a butterfly. This helps us plan how many butterflies we need. All are welcome. Let’s spread awareness. Let’s hold space. Let’s release hope. Please note, new location Sunset Lake!

Hosted by: The Sun Will Rise Foundation

Braintree Community Partnership

Town of Braintree

SADOD’s August PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP: The Dualities of Grief: Confronting Mixed Emotions Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET We often speak about the sadness and pain of grief and less often about the dual emotions that sometimes come up. We may feel joy and sorrow, relief and guilt, alone and connected, sometimes all at once and other times in different situations. For many, we have typically thought about emotions as “either you feel one way or you feel another way.” Yet, grief forces us to confront many emotions, some which may appear to be conflicting. In this workshop we will discuss the dualities of grief and how we can make space for all our emotions without feeling guilt or shame over them. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/grief-dualities.  Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

THE OPIOID PROJECT Changing Perceptions Through Art & Storytelling. Saturday 9/13/25 12-4 pm. Braintree MA The Opioid Project consists of a 4 hour art making and audio storytelling workshop where participants create collages and share personal stories. The art and recorded stories contextualize and bring to life the human costs of the epidemic. The finished work is hung in community multimedia exhibitions where each artwork is paired with its audio story. NO ART EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! View some samples here.

The storytelling portion is led by physician Dr. Annie Brewster founder of Health Story Collaborative and the art portion, by visual artist Nancy Marks.

The Opioid Project provides a safe place for those affected by the opioid epidemic to explore and process their personal experiences. Through art making and storytelling and in collaboration with community partners, they strive to decrease stigma and promote positive social change through dialogue, education and advocacy.

Cost: FREE – but requires a $20 per person deposit. You’ll receive the full deposit back at the event. We ask for this to help us continue offering events like this at no cost to you. REGISTER HERE!

Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone.

If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported.

Questions? Contact Robyn at 781-789-4604 robyn@thesunwillrise.org

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Braintree Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Braintree Opioid Abatement Funds have also been used to support this program.

UPCOMING MEMORIALS & VIGILS AROUND MA

There are so many remembrance events happening this month. SADOD has a IOAD event locator on their page for events in MA. If you are hosting an event and would like to add it to the locator, complete this form.

For other states and international events search here.

For members in Plymouth County MA, you can have your person remembered by emailing matthewscandle922@gmail.com with their name and/or a message. Plymouth County Outreach will be displaying these signs for the next month.

Help Us Prepare for International Overdose Awareness Day

Volunteers Needed in Natick MA to assist with three upcoming Purple Flag installations to remember lives lost to overdose in Massachusetts last year. Everyone is welcome. With enough help, setup takes about an hour. First Installation: Saturday, August 23rd at 9:00 AM
First Congregational Church 2 E Central St, Natick, MA 01760. Newton 9/7/25 & Boston 9/21. (times to follow) Plenty of free parking available! Questions?Email SOARnatick@gmail.com

Volunteers needed in Boston MA Friday 8/29/25 to help plant over 20,000 purple flags on the lawn at Liberty Mall in remembrance of those who have died due to overdose in Massachusetts between 2013-2024, sign up here. Please report at 7:30am to be assigned a task. T-shirts will be provided to volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis. If you volunteered in the past, please wear the shirt you were given and everyone is invited to wear a purple shirt in case t-shirts run out. They kindly ask that volunteers commit to at least two hours, though you are welcome to stay longer. At 9:00am, they expect government officials to arrive for a moment of silence. Resource tables will be present, and media will be in attendance. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TABLING

We are looking for volunteers to staff our grief support resource tables for the many International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) events that are coming up. Please let us know if you can help out at any of these IOAD events by completing this sign up form. More to come!

Aug 26th 4:00pm - Whitinsville MA

Aug 27th 4:00pm - Taunton MA

Aug 27th 5:00pm - Easton MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Great Barrington MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Pittsfield MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Malden MA

Aug 31st 7:00pm - Revere MA

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE

https://www.thesunwillrise.org/meetingcalendar

Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!

Join our private Facebook page.

Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!

Click here to view past newsletters on our website

“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

thesunwillrise.org

Week of 8/10/25

NOT JUST OVERDOSE. Not everyone in our grief community has experienced an overdose death. Some died from alcohol related issues. Some died from long-term health complications tied to substance use. Some from accidents, homicide or suicide and others from things that connect back to substance use in some other way. All of these deaths matter and are seen. Every single person matters.

August brings a lot of attention to International Overdose Awareness Day. It’s important and the events can bring connection and awareness. But I also know it can be hard when it feels like the focus leaves some stories out. Your grief is no less valid. Your person’s story is no less important. The way they lived and how they’re remembered isn’t defined only by how they died. As we mark International Overdose Awareness Day this month, we hold space for all substance use related deaths. We see you. We honor your person. Always. That’s why our focus for our peer grief support is and always will be for people bereaved due to any substance use related death.

Are you remembering your person(s) a special way this month? We would love to hear about. You can also share a memory or thought about your person(s) with the group. Please complete this form. We’ll gather and share these in a way that honors everyone’s unique story.

~ With care

Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.

Click here to open the calendar

If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Please note, a number of groups are not meeting due to IOAD activities, this month. Always check the main calendar for up to date meetings list.

Hope After Loss, the Christian faith based group, in MARLBOROUGH MA (8/11/25) is a having a potluck dinner, instead of a regular group.

Nathan’s Circle in WEST BARNSTABLE MA (8/12/25) will have an IOAD ceremony in lieu of a regular meeting.

Please check our calendar before attending the AUBURN MA (8/12/25) group for a potential update.

Carol Bowers filling in for Kar-Kate at the Partner/Spouse (8/12/25) zoom.

A second MOM’S virtual group (8/14/25) is added this week.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Tall Ship Cruise Saturday 8/16/25 12:00 pm. Seaport Boston MA. SOLD OUT Set sail with us aboard The Liberty Star, a 67-foot wooden schooner designed as a replica of an 1890s coastal sailing vessel. Wait List here.

Butterfly Release & International Overdose Awareness Day Ceremony. Saturday 8/23/25 10:00 am. Braintree MA. In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, we invite you to take part in our annual Butterfly Release Ceremony. Each guest will receive a live butterfly to release and/or a packet of wildflower seeds to plant in memory of a loved one. This day is a global observance that raises awareness about overdose, honors the people who have died and supports those who live with grief. We gather to remember without shame. We gather to say you are not alone. People with any substance use related death are invited to participate. This year’s theme: One Big Family, Driven by Hope. Cost: Free- but Please RSVP by reserving a ticket for each person wanting to release a butterfly. This helps us plan how many butterflies we need. All are welcome. Let’s spread awareness. Let’s hold space. Let’s release hope. Please note, new location Sunset Lake!

Hosted by: The Sun Will Rise Foundation

Braintree Community Partnership

Town of Braintree

SADOD’s August PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP: The Dualities of Grief: Confronting Mixed Emotions Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET We often speak about the sadness and pain of grief and less often about the dual emotions that sometimes come up. We may feel joy and sorrow, relief and guilt, alone and connected, sometimes all at once and other times in different situations. For many, we have typically thought about emotions as “either you feel one way or you feel another way.” Yet, grief forces us to confront many emotions, some which may appear to be conflicting. In this workshop we will discuss the dualities of grief and how we can make space for all our emotions without feeling guilt or shame over them. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/grief-dualities.  Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org 

THE OPIOID PROJECT Changing Perceptions Through Art & Storytelling. Saturday 9/13/25 12-4 pm. Braintree MA The Opioid Project consists of a 4-hour art making and audio storytelling workshop where participants create collages and share personal stories. The art and recorded stories contextualize and bring to life the human costs of the epidemic. The finished work is hung in community multimedia exhibitions where each artwork is paired with its audio story. NO ART EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! View some samples here.

The storytelling portion is led by physician Dr. Annie Brewster founder of Health Story Collaborative and the art portion, by visual artist Nancy Marks.

The Opioid Project provides a safe place for those affected by the opioid epidemic to explore and process their personal experiences. Through art making and storytelling and in collaboration with community partners, they strive to decrease stigma and promote positive social change through dialogue, education and advocacy.

Cost: FREE – but requires a $20 per person deposit. You’ll receive the full deposit back at the event. We ask for this to help us continue offering events like this at no cost to you. REGISTER HERE!

Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone.

If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported.

Questions? Contact Robyn at 781-789-4604 robyn@thesunwillrise.org

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Braintree Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Braintree Opioid Abatement Funds have also been used to support this program.

UPCOMING MEMORIALS & VIGILS AROUND MA

There are so many remembrance events happening this month. SADOD has a IOAD event locator on their page for events in MA. If you are hosting an event and would like to add it to the locator, complete this form.

For other states and international events search here.

Help Us Prepare for International Overdose Awareness Day

Volunteers Needed in Braintree Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM Braintree Town Hall 1 JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree, MA. We’re looking for volunteers to help install 1,598 purple remembrance flags along the fence outside Braintree Town Hall. Each flag represents a Massachusetts resident who died due to overdose in 2024. We'll be zip-tying the flags to the fence… all materials are provided. Removal: Monday, September 8 at 5:00 PM: Help is also needed to respectfully take down the display. These flags reflect the most recent overdose data from the federal government and may be updated. Final state numbers have not yet been released. Bring a friend and be part of this meaningful tribute. Every hand helps. Questions? Email robyn@thesunwillrise.org

Volunteers Needed in Natick MA to assist with three upcoming Purple Flag installations to remember lives lost to overdose in Massachusetts last year. Everyone is welcome. With enough help, setup takes about an hour. First Installation: Saturday, August 23rd at 9:00 AM
First Congregational Church 2 E Central St, Natick, MA 01760. Newton 9/7/25 & Boston 9/21. (times to follow) Plenty of free parking available! Questions?Email SOARnatick@gmail.com

Volunteers needed in Boston MA Friday 8/29/25 to help plant over 20,000 purple flags on the lawn at Liberty Mall in remembrance of those who have died due to overdose in Massachusetts between 2013-2024, sign up here. Please report at 7:30am to be assigned a task. T-shirts will be provided to volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis. If you volunteered in the past, please wear the shirt you were given and everyone is invited to wear a purple shirt in case t-shirts run out. They kindly ask that volunteers commit to at least two hours, though you are welcome to stay longer. At 9:00am, they expect government officials to arrive for a moment of silence. Resource tables will be present, and media will be in attendance. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TABLING

We are looking for volunteers to staff our grief support resource tables for the many International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) events that are coming up. Please let us know if you can help out at any of these IOAD events by completing this sign up form. More to come!

Aug 26th 4:00pm - Whitinsville MA

Aug 27th 4:00pm - Taunton MA

Aug 27th 5:00pm - Easton MA

Aug 31st 6:00pm - Falmouth MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Great Barrington MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Pittsfield MA

Aug 31st 6:30pm - Malden MA

Aug 31st 7:00pm - Revere MA

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

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“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean

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