Grief knows no age. In Muncie, two exceptional volunteer-led programs, GriefShare and SHIFT, offer support for both youths and adults.
GriefShare, a national 13-week program that includes both lessons and group discussions, has blessed the Muncie community for more than 20 years. In that time, it has expanded to numerous local churches and impacted hundreds of local community members following the death of a loved one. Some of them, like Debra Rolli, have gone on to become GriefShare facilitators.
“Through my time in the program, I learned that the children in our community were suffering grief with no programs to help them,” she says.
In fact, data suggests that every year in the U.S., each of the three million people who die leaves behind an average of five people in grief. Five percent of children lose one or both parents by age 15.
“Sadly, the wait for private therapy in our community is months long,” Rolli says. “This inspired me to find a program that would support Muncie-area youth at no charge.”
In 2022, after three years of searching and ultimately working with Watermark Community Church in Texas to adapt their programming to the East Central Indiana community’s needs, SHIFT Muncie became a reality. Led by a team of community volunteers, including mental health counselors, teachers, and church members, SHIFT involves a series of weekly two-hour sessions. To date, Muncie has had four nine-week series, and has the only SHIFT program in Indiana.
Each meeting includes age- and gender-based group activities, workbook lessons, games, creative projects and a shared meal. These sessions guide participants from feelings of anger and fear toward hope and healing.
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Today, both SHIFT and GriefShare work together to help people navigate the loss of a loved one, at any point in time or stage of life.
The impact of these programs has been profound. Participants report decreased isolation, increased coping abilities and a renewed sense of hope. They also contribute to a more resilient and caring community.
“As a former GriefShare participant and current SHIFT leader, I can attest that being in a group setting helps you learn that what you’re feeling is normal,” Rolli says. “It’s something that, alongside others, you can face head-on.”
Commonway Church is currently the only local church offering SHIFT and GriefShare through any one of the following communities: First Church of the Nazarene, Glad Tidings Church (both Muncie locations), Muncie First Brethren Church, The Jar Community Church, Tri-County Christian Church, Union Chapel Church, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. You don’t need to be a member of any of these churches to sign up.
For meeting times, locations and other info for GriefShare, go to griefshare.org, email amandajstrahan@gmail.com, or call 765-716-2945.
To learn more about SHIFT, go to shiftmuncie.com/commonway, or contact Rolli at debrarolli@comcast.net or 765-744-7920.
