Finding Light in Loss: A Guide to Helpful Grief Resources

From Our Executive Director

Over the past several months, our community has carried an extraordinary amount of grief. As an organization rooted in compassion and support, we continue to witness the quiet strength of families walking through unimaginable heartache.

This blog post is offered with deep respect for the tenderness of this season. It is a reflection on grief—how it shapes us, how it lingers, and how we can make space for one another in the midst of it.

Whether your grief is recent or long-held, visible, or private, please know you are not alone. Below are several resources and hopefully helpful avenues if you are in need of support.

With love and care,

Kristina Robertson

Executive Director, Project 4031

Grief Camps & Retreats in Fort Worth

Grief retreats offer a unique opportunity for concentrated healing and connection in a supportive, often natural, setting. These specialized programs provide a temporary escape from daily routines, allowing individuals and families to immerse themselves in therapeutic activities, connect with others facing similar losses, and focus entirely on their grief journey.

• Grief Camp by Camp El Tesoro de la Vida: A week-long resident camp for children ages 7-17. A combination of 90% of traditional fun camping activities and 10% structured grief-oriented program. Certified professional counselors lead small group sessions and are on-site at all times to provide counseling and support. Scholarships are available for application.

  
  

• Camp Morning Star by Camp John Marc: A 3-day camp that serves families of patients who have died in the last year from Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, TX. It provides families with an opportunity to process their experiences with grief, meet families who have experienced loss, and enjoy activities as a family.

• Camp Sunrise by Christian Works: A free weekend bereavement camp for children ages 6 to 17. Licensed counselors and trained facilitators lead children and teens through fun, high-energy activities, which provide healthy ways to express feelings and help develop coping strategies for their journey toward hope & healing.

  
  

• A Memory Grows Retreat: A 4-day retreat with multiple sessions throughout the year for parents suffering child loss. Specific retreats are offered for loss due to suicide, homicide, and fentanyl. The registration fee is $350, and grants are available to cover a large portion.

Grief Support Groups

If you do not have the luxury to go for a retreat, joining a support group and connecting with others who understand your experience can also be incredibly healing. Fort Worth offers a variety of support groups tailored to different needs, either online or in person.

The WARM Place 

Mainly for children, the grief support center provides a safe environment and their families to express and share their grief. All programs are free to participate in. 

• Group Nights: Designed for children aged 3 ½ – 18 to acknowledge their grief alongside their peers. The groups are led by trained volunteers and monitored by licensed mental health professionals, featuring a potluck dinner, fun activities for children, and a simultaneous caregiver group for parents and caregivers.  

  
  

• Pre-K Program: Offered in spring and fall every Wednesday from 12 to 1 pm, the 10-week programs aim to help children ages 3½ – 5 heal after the death of a loved one. 

  
  

• Young Adults Group: Meeting every Wednesday from 7 to 8:30pm, these grief groups focus on young adults of 19-25 years old by offering them the necessary support along their grief journey. 

  
  

• Virtual Groups: If you cannot make it in person, try joining a virtual group! Led by trained volunteers, the biweekly virtual groups support K-12 children and their families with activities and peer support. 

GriefShare 

The Christian-based support groups meeting weekly at various churches across the Fort Worth area. Each meeting covers an important topic, such as loneliness and sadness, self-care, and questions for God. During the 13-week session, participants benefit from advice from counselors, pastors, and healthcare professionals. While some locations charge a $10-25 registration fee for workbooks and refreshments, some locations offer the service for free or offer scholarships to cover all or part of the cost. 

Currently, some of the support groups are available in the following churches across Fort Worth: 

• First Baptist Church – Lakeside 

• North Fort Worth Baptist Church 

• All Saints Church – Crestline 

• International Harvest Christian Fellowship 

  
  

For a more comprehensive list of support groups, other possible locations and virtual sessions, please visit the Grief Share website.  

The Compassionate Friends – Fort Worth Chapter 

The Compassionate Friends is a national organization dedicated to supporting families that experienced the death of a child regardless their age.  

• Chapter Meetings: The organization hosts chapter meetings in Arlington Heights United Methodist Church, allowing bereaved parents, grandparents or siblings to share their grief with each other. Participants are also welcome to celebrate the month of their loved ones’ birthdays by sharing photos and desserts.  

  
  

• Special events: Annual special events such as a butterfly release in June and a special memorial service in November will also be hosted. 

Grief and Loss Center of North Texas

A nonprofit organization that provide free grief support groups to people of all ages.

• SAM's Place: SAM stands for "Same As Me," a free monthly in-person support groups for kids from kindergartners through high school seniors and their families. The children's groups are led by trained Volunteer Group Facilitators, and the parent/guardian group is led by Laurie Taylor, their executive director.

  
  

• Virtual adult support groups: various free monthly adult support groups covering different themes, including child loss, spouse/partner loss, Family and Friends Group, Homicide Loss, Young Adult Group and more.

Cancer Support Community North Texas

The organization offers various free support groups led by licensed medical professionals for the families of deceased cancer patients. For more detail, contact them via their website.

• Living with Loss: The ongoing support group is for anyone whose loved one has died of cancer. Living with loss and moving forward is the main theme of this group.

  
  

• Grief Busters: The six-session support group is designed for children ages 4-12 who have lost a loved one or friend to cancer. It provides a safe space for processing emotions through activities and crafts.

  
  

• Bereavement Workshop: The six-session grief workshop applies to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one to cancer, covering topics like myths of grief and healing.

Lighting the Path Through Grief

Project 4031 is committed to supporting terminal patients and their families. Our support allows families to focus on creating meaningful memories, sharing precious moments, and finding peace during a difficult time. The path ahead may feel uncertain, but you don’t walk it alone. These gentle offerings are here to walk beside you—one quiet step, then another—through today, and into tomorrow. 

About Us:

Project 4031 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers no-cost services to terminally ill children and adults to strengthen their end-of-life stories. We provide assistance by helping struggling families meet basic needs through financial support and fulfilling last dreams. Our goal is to provide a better quality of life and allow someone to end life well. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Project 4031 has been serving the North Texas community since 2011.