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Sharing Kindness proposes adult peer grief group on Nantucket focused on unexpected and traumatic loss
Summary
Sharing Kindness asked the Contract Review Committee to fund a clinician-led monthly adult peer grief group for people experiencing unexpected or stigmatized losses; the group would include shared meals, live-translation options and clinician intake screening.
Sharing Kindness, a Cape-based grief-support nonprofit, asked the Contract Review Committee on Jan. 17 to fund an adult peer grief group on Nantucket focused on unexpected, traumatic and stigmatized losses.
Executive Director Kim Mead Walters outlined the organization’s model: licensed clinicians lead peer-support groups with trained volunteer co-facilitators; sessions typically begin with a shared meal and run 6:00–7:30 p.m. The group would include live translation technology so non-English speakers can participate in real time.
Nut graf: Sharing Kindness stressed that bereaved adults are at increased risk for mood disorders and adverse health outcomes and that peer grief groups reduce isolation and build community supports. The presenter cited internal pre/post survey results showing that 100% of participants felt safe and 97% reported improved ability to share grief after participating.
Presenters said a clinician (Nantucket-based clinician Amanda Wright) has completed Sharing Kindness training and could facilitate on island. The nonprofit said it would run monthly groups from September 2025 through June 2026 and aim for 12–15 participants, with an anticipated ripple effect as members share coping tools with others.
Ending: The committee welcomed the proposal and noted Sharing Kindness already runs a suicide-loss survivor group on the island; members encouraged the group to strengthen local partnerships and offered to follow up during deliberations with funding and logistics questions.
