Three Turlock-area organizations are joining together to host a free community gathering in recognition of National Grief Awareness Day.

The public is invited to enjoy a complimentary specialty coffee at La Mo Cafe, sponsored by EMC Health Foundation. Staff members from CovenantCare Home Health and Hospice, Covenant Living and Jessica’s House will be on hand to share information about the grief support, end-of-life care, retirement community, and bereavement resources available to individuals and families throughout the greater Turlock area.

The event, slated for Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to noon at La Mo Cafe, 310 East Main St., is free to attend.

National Grief Awareness Day, observed on Aug. 30 each year, is a time to acknowledge that grief is a universal human experience, and one that no one should have to carry alone. This gathering is designed to lower barriers to finding support while offering a warm, welcoming space where community members can learn about available resources without pressure or obligation.

"To me, hospice care reflects compassion at its deepest level," said Danielle Parmley, a licensed vocational nurse for CovenantCare Home Health and Hospice. "I am honored to support patients and families with empathy, presence, and genuine love, and I feel deeply blessed to be entrusted into their homes during such a vulnerable time."

Whether someone is in the early days of loss or years after their loss, the organizations represented at this event offer a range of services from grief support for children, teens, young adults and families at Jessica’s House, to medical care, hospice and bereavement care through CovenantCare Home Health and Hospice, to compassionate senior living and support services through Covenant Living.

“Grief touches every family, and yet it is so often carried alone,” said Erin Nelson, executive director of Jessica’s House. “Our hope is that this gathering offers a gentle invitation with a cup of coffee, a caring conversation, and the knowledge that support from the Covenant ministry community is available when you need it.”

Jessica’s House is a peer-based grief support center serving children, teens, young adults, and families who have experienced the death of a loved one. Founded in 2011, Jessica’s House serves a 19-ZIP-code footprint across Stanislaus and Merced counties. For more information, visit jessicashouse.org.

CovenantCare Home Health and Hospice provides compassionate in-home health and end-of-life care to individuals and families throughout the region, walking alongside patients and loved ones. For more information, visit covenantcareathome.org/hospice-turlock.

Covenant Living offers senior living communities and support services rooted in care, community, and a commitment to whole-person well-being. For more information visit covlivingturlock.org.