Mustaches for Kidds raises $3,000 for children’s grief counseling

Throughout history, mustaches have adorned the lips of many great men. In October, four men in Lewes bravely embraced the power of the 'stache, raising awareness and funding for children struggling through the grief and bereavement process. Agreeing to forgo their razors for the Mustaches for Kidds fundraiser were Richard Hartnett, Richard Rimmer, Ethan Thomas and Julius Mullen.

Hartnett, vice president of commercial real estate lending for M&T Bank and Sussex County ‘stache master, jumped at the chance to help recruit and organize this effort when approached by Laura Rimmer, development coordinator for Children and Families First. "As a grown man, I can recognize how the overwhelming emotions associated with the loss of a loved one would affect me. A child trying to cope with such things alone must feel tremendously lost and scared," Rimmer said. "Often in situations where young children are involved, they look to the adults around them for guidance and cues on how to deal with the death. However, those adults are likely also equally overwhelmed and unsure of how to best help the children while coping with their own grief."

Healing Pathways, the main program run by Supporting Kidds, is a grief counseling program specifically for children and their families. Children experience overwhelming feelings when someone close to them dies - sadness, confusion, shock, fear, anger, guilt and worry. Amid these reactions, children must also struggle with the reality of what has happened and manage a multitude of changes in their daily routines that accompany loss. Newly bereaved families are also faced with many challenging questions, like how to share information with the children, whether to include children in the funeral or memorial services, how to explain and normalize grief to a child, all while recognizing the loss is impacting many other aspects of the families' life.

After three weeks of awkward looks, questions from family members and colleagues, and diligent efforts including securing a sponsorship from M&T Bank, peer-to-peer fundraising online and hosting a Fund for Friends Night at The Greene Turtle in Lewes, these four men gathered one final time with a lot to celebrate. Their final fundraising tally was $3,000, and the outreach they achieved in Sussex County was priceless, as important news was disseminated about Supporting Kidds. Attending the final celebration was Cara Duncan, program manager for Supporting Kidds. "A longtime goal for the agency has been the expansion of the Healing Pathways program beyond New Castle County," said Duncan, "So we are outright thrilled to share that beginning in spring of 2017, that will come to fruition. We will be offering Healing Pathways out of Dover and Georgetown, and I encourage all to learn more about programs, or reach out to us with questions."

For more information, go to www.supportingkidds.org.