By Annette Pinder

November is Children’s Grief Awareness Month, a time to recognize and support the millions of children who are coping with the death of someone they love. In Western New York, WNY Compassion Connection: A Center for Grieving Children and Families provides a caring refuge for those navigating loss—helping children, teens, and parents find hope, healing, and connection.

Located at 3966 Walden Avenue in Lancaster, the center is an initiative by the P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative, founded by former Buffalo Bills punter Brian Moorman and his wife Amber. While P.U.N.T. has long supported families affected by pediatric cancer, WNY Compassion Connection broadens that mission to assist all grieving families, regardless of the cause of their loss.

“Grief can isolate families, especially children who may not have peers who understand what they’re feeling,” says Gwen Mysiak, Executive Director of P.U.N.T. “This center is a safe place for kids and parents to talk openly, remember their loved ones, and learn healthy ways to cope together.”

Programs are provided free of charge thanks to community donors, grants, and volunteers. Each week, families come together in small peer-support groups led by trained facilitators. Children are divided by age—Little Lanterns (ages 5-8), Pathfinders (ages 9-12), and Navigators (ages 13-18)—while parents and caregivers meet separately. Sessions start with shared activities like art, storytelling, or memory boxes, which help participants express feelings that are often difficult to put into words.

For adults, the Parent and Caregiver Group offers tools to support grieving children while managing their own emotions. Families are encouraged to attend a seven-session introductory series followed by ongoing peer meetings. The center also provides workshops, community presentations, and school-based grief education to help teachers, counselors, and peers better support grieving students.

The need for these programs is huge. According to the Child Bereavement Estimation Model, one in 11 children in Erie County will lose a parent or sibling before turning 18. Without support, grief can lead to depression, anxiety, and struggles with school or behavior. “When we give children a place to express their grief and connect with others who ‘get it,’ we reduce their feeling of isolation and help build resilience,” says Mysiak.

Beyond peer support, WNY Compassion Connection aims to build a grief-aware community through public outreach and professional training. The center’s goal is to make conversations about grief normal, so children and families no longer feel they have to hide their pain.

During Childhood Grief Awareness Month this November, WNY Compassion Connection encourages everyone to “turn Buffalo blue”—wear blue ribbons or lights to honor grieving children and raise awareness. Community members can also participate by volunteering, donating, or attending educational events that support free programming for local families.

No child or family should have to face grief alone. Learn more about programs or ways to support by visiting wnycompassionconnection.org, calling 716-288-7780, or emailing info@wnycompassionconnection.org.