Camps Help Grieving Children Cope

Camps help grieving children cope Jamie Moyer , tennis great Billie Jean King, and Karen Moyer attend a Moyer Foundation fund-raiser in 2011. YONG KIM / Staff Photographer

 Ed Rendell POSTED: Monday, September 16, 2013, 1:08 AM This past year, the nation was reminded of the heartbreaking nature of childhood grief when the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., left behind so many siblings, sons, and daughters. Such events shock us, and they heighten our awareness of the suffering of others. Yet as a society, we tend to ignore a child's painful perspective on death, despite the fact that so many children face the loss of someone they love. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 1.5 million children lose a parent each year, and countless others experience the death of a relative, friend, or someone else close to them. In Philadelphia alone, there are more than 14,000 children grieving the loss of their mom or dad. I hold a special place in my heart for these children, because I, too, lost a parent when I was young. My father died when I was 14 years old, and when I was a teenager trying to find my way into adulthood, my dad's death made it more difficult to figure out who I was and what path I would take in life. In addition to sadness and confusion, I felt alone at times, which I have since learned is common for kids in similar situations. Children often feel isolated in their grief but rarely receive formal counseling. Data indicate that grieving children are more likely to fall into depression, commit suicide, end up in poverty, or become addicted to drugs. Indeed, the only thing worse than a grieving child is a child grieving alone, yet it happens all too often. As a former Philadelphia mayor, I have looked children in the eyes after they learned that their mother or father, who may have been a police officer or firefighter, had died in the act of duty. I understood their grief and could anticipate the struggle they would face just to feel like a kid again, to sense that life is full of hope and possibility. Now, thanks to the Moyer Foundation and its many local partners, there is a unique place for grieving children to find comfort, hope, and healing. Started by former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen, the Moyer Foundation's Camp Erin program is specifically designed for children affected by the death of someone close to them. Since the first camp opened in 2002, the foundation has expanded to more than 41 camps that serve 2,500 children annually across the country. There is a camp in every Major League Baseball city; one in our area, in Jamison, which has engaged more than a thousand children and volunteers from Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester Counties; and, now, one in Newtown, Conn. At Camp Erin, children learn that they are not alone. They meet other kids who have also lost someone close to them. Together at camp, children see that sadness is not something to hide, nor is it forever. Nurtured by grief professionals and trained volunteers, children honor their loved ones, create positive memories, and make lasting friendships. I am certain Camp Erin would have helped me to cope with my father's death, and now, as a member of the foundation's national advisory board, I continue to be amazed by the healing that these camps are able to provide. It's moving to see hope returned to so many young lives. Since its inception, Camp Erin has reached more than 10,000 children, but so many more could benefit from the wonderful experience these camps provide. On Thursday, I will join Jamie and Karen Moyer at the first Champions for Children Luncheon as Philadelphia comes together to support the Moyer Foundation. To learn more, visit www.moyerfoundation.org.   Ed Rendell is a former Democratic governor of Pennsylvania and a member of the Moyer Foundation's national advisory board. Ed Rendell
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