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!

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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.