In 1998, with the help of my mom and some very passionate volunteers, I founded the Memory Box Artist Program, Inc., (now a non-profit charity) to encourage women to use their creativity to benefit others. During my ten year tenure as President of the program, it provided over108,000 boxes to hospitals for neonatal loss, free of charge. One nurse told me about a mother who wanted to take home mementos of her stillborn baby and the only thing the nurse could find to carry them in was a bio-hazard trash bag. The boxes the program provides gives the families a place to put their mementos from the pregnancy.
From individuals to Girl Scout groups to art guilds, the program has been embraced by women around the world. With a bit of paint, a touch of glue, and a lot of heart, women around the world are reaching out to ease the grieving process for another family they have never met. The program continues it’s work, and is online at http://www.memoryboxes.org/
by Tera Leigh
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