AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — As families gather for Thanksgiving, the holiday can be particularly painful for those who have lost a loved one.
BSA Hospice of the Southwest is offering a place for empathy and a Thanksgiving gathering to support those in mourning.
Volunteer Fred Hitchett, who has been involved with the hospice since his wife passed away in 2010, said, “Me and Mouse just coming to help out. My wife went through hospice, and she’s been gone for 15 years now. She passed in 2010, and they haven’t run me off yet. So I just keep hanging around and helping out when I can.”
BSA Hospice has hosted this event for several years, providing extra support during this time of year. Lindsey Wyatt, bereavement coordinator at BSA Hospice, expressed excitement about hosting the event.
“We’re just really excited to host, to provide an opportunity and a warm, safe place for people to fellowship and come together who have experienced that loss. And, you know, just learn about grief from the holidays and how to get through it and, just maybe have a break from all the hustle and bustle and just have a moment to relax,” she said.
Wyatt also offered advice for those who might struggle emotionally during the holidays.
“Don’t isolate yourself. This time of year can make things much more difficult. Always, if you’re feeling like you want to be alone and you can’t handle, like, big family gatherings, or if you only want to stay for a little while. That’s totally normal. That’s wonderful. Definitely don’t do that. But at the same time, you want to get out in the community,” she advised.
Hitchett emphasized the importance of showing up every year to help those in need.
“Once you’ve been there, you kind of know what to expect, and you can probably help them over that hump and help them move on. You know, it’s it’s just makes you feel good inside, you know, to help them out,” he said.
