Did you know that one in 11 children in the United States experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18? One in five young adults will live through the death of someone close to them by age 25. To help these young individuals deal with loss, Kate Atwood launched Kate’s Club 20 years ago.

 

The first Kate’s Club outing in 2003 was to a bowling alley and included six grieving children. Since then, the organization has helped more than 10,000 grieving kids, teens, young adults, and their families throughout Georgia.

 

Now headquartered in the city of Brookhaven on West Druid Hills Drive, Kate’s Club has grown to include a multitude of programs and four clubhouse locations. In addition to the Atlanta/Brookhaven facility, the charity has clubhouses in Newnan, Athens, and Brunswick.

 

Grieving children and teens (called members) can attend full- or half-day grief support programs at a Clubhouse.  Volunteers, artists, therapists, and others lead social, recreational, and therapeutic sessions during Clubhouse Days. Members can also take part in family nights, outings, weekends at Camp Twinlakes in April or August, events to provide extra support during the holidays, and traumatic loss retreats.

 

While Kate’s Club initially helped grieving children, it has grown to provide programs for young adults from ages 18 to 30. The nonprofit has programs for parents and caregivers as well, and has expanded to offer training and workshops for teachers and other professionals who interact with grieving children and families.

 

Founder Kate Atwood was 12 years old when she lost her mother to breast cancer. She threw herself into sports and activities. It wasn’t until serving as a counselor at a bereavement camp in Virginia that she discovered the importance of sharing her story and being around others who had experienced grief. She founded Kate’s Club when she was 22 years old. The club was created as a safe space for grieving children to connect and grow through their grief experience.

 

At the heart of Kate’s Club are in-person buddies, a volunteer position that is available for individuals at the Brookhaven and other Clubhouse locations. These volunteers help lead Clubhouse activities. Groups or corporations can sign up for shifts at the Brookhaven Clubhouse, help with cleaning and painting projects, serve at one of the weekend camps, or provide a weeknight dinner or weekend lunch.

 

The community is invited to join the Mourning Walk on November 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Blackburn Park. Along with Kate’s Club participants and families, community members can walk in memory of a loved one who has died.

 

SIDE BAR TO NON-PROFIT PIECE

HEAD = Kate’s Club

Non-profit: Kate’s Club

 

Mission: To support and create a community for children, teens, young adults, and their families who have experienced the death of someone close to them. To empower kids, teens, and young adults after the death of a parent, sibling, caregiver, or someone important to them.

 

Contact: call (404) 347-7619 or visit https://www.katesclub.org/

 

How You Can Help: Volunteer as an individual to be a buddy or with a group to provide meals, help paint and clean, and take shifts at a Clubhouse (https://www.katesclub.org/volunteer). Donate once or become a regular giver (https://4agc.com/donation_pages/32ac70f6-0c48-45f5-a806-3544b90481ef). Attend an event such as the Mourning Walk or annual gala (https://www.katesclub.org/events).