Dear Friends and Supporters, 

As we find ourselves in the heart of summer, we welcomed back our Jessica’s House families for July groups and drummed out our emotions with Josh Robinson. I am continuously reminded of the remarkable resilience and courage of the children and families of Jessica's House. Each grief story reminds me of our mission and why this work is so vital to creating a stronger and healthier community. 

Together with our wonderful volunteers and donors, we are providing free support to families who need us. Your continued support of Jessica’s House helps us create a safe place where healing can begin.  

Thank you for supporting this meaningful work. 

With gratitude,

Erin Nelson

Founder and Executive Director, Jessica's House

Back To School

As summer vacation nears the end, returning to school is likely on your mind. Here are some tips to help your family transition back to school. 

• Inform your child’s teacher of the loss your family has experienced. Even if the loss was a few years ago, it’s helpful for teachers to know.
• Discuss a plan with your child’s teacher for how they can support your child during a difficult moment.
• Encourage your child to check in with their teacher or school counselor if they need.
• Sometimes, it can be hard for kids to be separated from their parent(s) for an entire day. Set up a plan with the school so that your child can call you during their lunch break if they need.
• Before you part ways with your young child for the day, offer to draw a heart on each other’s hands so you can both look at it throughout the day and know you’re thinking of each other. For older kids, pick an emoji together that you can text during the day when you think of each other.
• On Sundays, discuss your family's schedule for that week and let them know you’ll communicate any changes that may occur.
• Children do well with structure and routine. Keep to a nightly bedtime routine as best you can, which can help ensure your child gets adequate rest each night.
• Try to spend 10 minutes each day offering your child your undivided attention. Your physical presence and this connection time are the best gifts you can provide.

In times of grief, finding strength in your community is everything. Finding others who understand is so reassuring and helpful. In these moments, belonging isn't just a word, it's a warm embrace, a shared silence, and a gentle reminder that we're never truly alone. It's through this collective support that we find the courage to navigate loss, knowing that amidst the pain, there's a community holding us up with kindness and empathy. At Jessica's House we strive to cultivate a safe place where these bonds of empathy and understanding flourish, ensuring that everyone who walks through our front door finds not only solace but a renewed sense of hope and connection.

To learn more about our services and resources, contact us at 209-250-5395 or email info@jessicashouse.org.

Materials: Legal size paper with hot air balloon template, markers, crayons, and color pencils.

Directions:

Imagine you could take a hot air balloon ride with the person who died and travel back to a summer memory. It could be a vacation, activity, or an event during the summer.

Which memory would you visit? Draw a scene from your memory in the hot air balloon. Include how your five senses experienced that memory.

• What did you see?
• What did you smell?
• What did you hear?
• What did you touch?
• What did you taste?

Finish with drawing a picture of you and your person in the hot air balloon basket. 

Jessica's House offers the HeartStrings group for families grieving pregnancy, infant, and stillbirth losses. For more information about this group, call our main line at (209) 250-5395 or email us at info@jessicashouse.org.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for 'Drum It Out' with Josh Robinson! Together, we embraced healing through rhythm and creativity, allowing for self-expression and the release of our grief.

Rotarians Bring The Shade

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Turlock for our new shade structure! Our 'littles' now have shade to build friendships and navigate grief through play in our outdoor area at Jessica's House.

Volunteer Opportunities

We are currently seeking volunteers who have experience with babies to help support our Pre-Littles group (ages 0-1). If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, click the button below to fill out an application. We are currently welcoming new volunteers for our upcoming training session.

Day 1 Training Dates (6-8:30 pm)

August 12th

Weekend Training Dates (9 am-4:00 pm)

September 14th & 15th

Follow us on social media!