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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

The Center for Grieving Children, Maine

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The Center for Grieving Children, Maine

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Since its founding in 1987, the Center for Grieving Children has served more than 66,000 children, teens, and their families.

The Center for Grieving Children's mission is to provide a safe space, loving peer support, outreach, and education to grieving children, teens, families and the community of southern Maine. The Center for Grieving Children, based in Portland, Maine, serves grieving children, teens, families, and young adults through peer support, outreach, and education. Last year, the Center relied on more than 250 volunteers who contributed over 18,000 hours of support. Our community-oriented work place is staffed by 16 full- and part-time staff members, and is regularly assisted by volunteers and interns in different capacities. The Center is governed by a 24-member board of directors. THANK YOU, BILL:
The Center for Grieving Children was founded in 1987 by Portland, Maine resident Bill Hemmens, following the death of his sister. In trying to find help and support for his niece Erin, Bill recognized that children need peers and caring adults to support them through their grief, because death profoundly affects every aspect of their lives.

10/23/2026

💚 Volunteer Spotlight: Savannah Mirisola Sullivan 💚

Savannah is a Middles Bereavement Facilitator on Thursday Nights and has been volunteering with The Center since completing her training in spring 2025. During her time with the Middles, she’s found hands-on, open-ended activities to be especially powerful in keeping hands “busy,” which in turn creates space and opportunity for meaningful shares to arise between participants. To the night, Savannah brings a steady, compassionate and thoughtful presence as well as a deep respect for both her participants and fellow facilitators.

Savannah was first introduced to The Center while she was previously working as a fourth-grade teacher with Portland Public Schools. Center staff led an on-site training for teachers on how to support grieving students after a series of consecutive student deaths over a particularly short amount of time, and Savannah remembered feeling seen and heard in that space, and that the training felt supportive and respectful of both the teachers and the students.

The impact of the training and wanting to support children in a different capacity led Savannah to pursue volunteering at The Center. She credits the strong, open, and honest support system and the trust she’s experienced among volunteers as they share and support one another authentically for allowing her the space and ability to fully show up for children as they navigate their grief.

A fun fact about Savannah: She doesn’t have a driver’s license and bikes everywhere, just like she did when living in Chicago! We couldn’t be more grateful Savannah is here with us now in Maine and at The Center supporting participants each week! Thank you for all you do, Savannah! 💚

10/21/2026

What makes a child excited to walk through our doors? For RyLeigh and Roman, The Center became a place of friendship, understanding, and support after the loss of their parents. This fall, we're sharing their story and inviting our community to help ensure more children and families have access to the same care. Read the full letter and support our Fall Appeal today:https://www.cgcmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Fall-Appeal-Letter-w-Button.pdf

10/15/2026

Our 2025–2026 Annual Report is here! Thanks to the support of our donors, volunteers, community partners and staff, we are reaching further to reach more children, teens, adults, and families across Maine. We invite you to take a look at the impact we've made together! https://www.cgcmaine.org/current-annual-report/

10/05/2026

Not Your Average Wishlist!

As we kick off another year of programming at the Center, we're looking for a few items that might seem a little random, but would make a big difference for the children, families, and adults we serve. We're currently searching for:

1. A large, sturdy coffee table for one of our adult support group rooms (perfect for art projects and activities).
2. Lap desks (up to eight) for our children and teen support groups. Many participants sit on bean bag chairs during group activities, and lap desks would provide a more comfortable and stable surface for art projects, journaling, and other creative activities.
3. A steam cleaner, or two, that we could borrow for an upcoming volunteer cleaning day.
4. Extra compost or garden soil that didn't get used this season.

Have one of these items sitting around? Know someone who might? We'd love to hear from you! Please send us a message here or email [email protected] if you can help. Thank you in advance for your support!

10/02/2026

Thank you for Swinging Fore The Center! What started with cloudy skies turned into an incredible day of golf, community, and generosity at Prouts Neck Country Club.

Thanks to our players, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters, we raised a record-breaking amount to help ensure grief support remains available, accessible and free.

A special thank you to our major sponsors: Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating Inc. (Lunch Sponsor), Maine Community Bank (Cart Sponsor), and Family Sponsors: Coastal Creations of Maine, Doten's Construction, NBT Bank, Partners Bank, Patrons Oxford Insurance, Smith & Wilkinson, Strategic Media, and Workflow Concepts. Your partnership helps make this work possible.

We're excited to share a few highlights from the day. Thank you to Bridget Estabrook Photography and Andy York for sharing your talent in capturing the day so beautifully. If you captured memories of your own, we'd love to see them! Be sure to tag us .

09/28/2026

⛳️ Tomorrow is the day! We can’t wait to welcome players, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters to our annual Swing “Fore” the Center Golf Tournament at Prouts Neck Country Club!

This event would not be possible without the incredible generosity of our sponsors. A special thank you to our Lunch Sponsor: Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating; Cart Sponsor: Maine Community Bank; and our Family Sponsors: Coastal Creations of Maine, Doten’s Construction, NBT Bank, Partners Bank, Patrons Oxford Insurance, Smith & Wilkinson, Strategic Media, and Workflow Concepts. Your support helps make tomorrow’s tournament possible and directly benefits grieving children, teens, and families across Maine.

We’re also grateful to our Tee Sponsors, Green Sponsor, Sign Sponsor, In-Kind Sponsors, and Corporate Partners for helping make this event a huge success. Your commitment to our mission helps ensure that children and families navigating grief have access to the support, resources, and community they need.

Thank you for helping us create a day of connection, fun, and impact. We look forward to seeing everyone on the course tomorrow! ⛳️

09/24/2026

Yesterday, our staff team and Board of Directors enjoyed a wonderful retreat together at the L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs Paddling Center!

We spent the morning challenging ourselves on the high ropes course, supporting one another, building trust, and stepping outside our comfort zones. The experience was a powerful reminder of the strength of our community and the value of teamwork.

After a beautiful lunch by the water, we gathered for a productive afternoon of planning and discussion as we continue moving the Center forward in meaningful ways.

A special thank you to L.L.Bean Outdoors and their incredible ropes instructors for creating such a fun, welcoming, and encouraging experience. We had an amazing time learning, growing, and pushing ourselves in new ways.

Thank you to our dedicated staff and Board members for bringing your energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to our mission every day. We are proud of the work we’re doing together and excited about the future ahead. 💚

09/14/2026

Please join us in welcoming our newest group of interns for the 2026-2027 program year!

These talented individuals will play an important role in supporting The Center's mission, from assisting with programs to helping facilitate our peer support groups. We are grateful for the energy, compassion, and dedication they bring to our community, and we're excited to have them with us this year.

Welcome to The Center! 💚

09/11/2026

Today, we honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001 and hold space for the children, families, and communities who continue to carry the impact of those profound losses.

We remember the children and families who lost loved ones that day. Through our connection with America’s Camp, we have had the honor of knowing and supporting some of these young people and their families. Their stories, resilience, and grief stay with us.

Grief doesn’t have a timeline. Twenty five years later, we remember, we listen, and we make space for those who are still grieving.

We are here, today and always. You can reach us at (207) 775-5216 or [email protected].

Address

1209 Main St Sanford, ME 04073 & 555 Forest Avenue
Portland, ME
04101

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.cgcmaine.org/

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