Tides, an organization that provides support to families who are dealing with the loss of a loved one, was founded in 2003 with seven families. It was bolstered in 2007 by a grant from Highmark insurance. It now serves more than 60 families who meet twice each month to draw support from each other as they go through the mourning process.
“It’s a very open-ended model,” says Tides executive director Suzanne Thompson. “Some families may come for three months, others come for two years.”
The open-ended nature of the program is a reason for its name, which refers to the ebb and flow of the grieving process. Meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of each month from 6 to 7:45 p.m. at Houserville Elementary. Dinner is provided.
Thompson says the meetings, also known as Tides nights, are a mix of social time for families and smaller breakout sessions separated by age groups. Tides nights are free to attend, but preregistration is required.
Thompson, along with program coordinator Holly Torbic and clinical coordinator Evelyn Wald, conduct intake meetings when they are contacted by new families to determine whether Tides is the right fit for them.
“We try to find out pertinent information on how the loss has impacted them and where they are functioning as a family,” Thompson says. “For example, if someone is suicidal or suffering from PTSD, it might not be a good fit for them right away, and we’ll refer them to other services before they begin working with us.”
In addition to Tides nights, the group also partners with Therapy Dogs International to provide pet therapy to its families and collaborates with other organizations when crisis situations occur in the community.
Like many nonprofits, Tides relies largely on volunteers to support day-to-day operations. The group currently has about 45 volunteers who assist with Tides nights, send greeting cards to families on anniversaries of loved ones’ deaths, and help spread the word about the program at community events. Volunteers also provide support for fundraising and administrative tasks.
Thompson says the group is always looking for new volunteers, especially as the number of families Tides serves continues to grow.
For more information on becoming a Tides family or volunteer, visit tidesprogram.org or call (814) 692-2233.
