More than ever
Now, maybe more than ever, women deserve all the support we can offer. Women from all walks of life. Women who face multiple demands and deal with many traumas, none exactly the same but no less painful. At Bellis, much of our focus is on moms whose children are parented by someone else.
Our newest program
Bellis offers support and healing. Our newest program, which began in April 2021, offers grief support for mothers whose parental rights have been terminated by the courts. Children are removed from their mothers’ care, often in traumatizing ways, often after years of investigation by child protection services. This comes with deep pain and grief, and – perhaps most damaging – shame. It can add anger, self-hatred, and poor choices to the women's trauma.
Participants in our groups, offered in person and online each week, report feeling calmer, more supported, empowered and less alone and ashamed. They begin to feel less marginalized.
This work matters
Women who experience termination of parental rights (TPR) have been historically underserved. Bellis is a pioneer in this grief support work. Nowhere else in the US is there anything like this. Our expert-led, peer-based model is called Stronger Together, and it works. The commonality of their TPR experience gives women a space in which they feel heard and understood. They are with others who get it, without judgment.
The need in Minnesota is great. Between 2016 and 2021, Minnesota issued TPR orders for 7,624 individuals, and 45% were for mothers. We have growth opportunities in other regions of our state, and across the country.
Your support is imperative
Bellis welcomes donor and volunteer support for this work. Our grant writing work is ongoing and time-consuming. Financial donations for this program help assure its longevity. The two volunteer roles below help us reduce costs and extend heartfelt hospitality, which is at the core of Bellis’ work.
Volunteers
Tuesday drivers offer safe and comfortable transportation for 2 to 5 individuals who attend the weekly support group at our office in Minneapolis (3249 Hennepin Ave. South). Pick up at multiple locations for delivery before 10 a.m.; then drive the participants back home starting at 12 p.m.
Deliver a homemade lunch (for 15) quarterly to the Bellis office for women who gather Tuesday mornings for grief support. This meal builds community and offers extra nurturing (and nourishment!).
Learn more on our website. We can always use donations of snacks and store-bought cookie dough (that we bake on Tuesday mornings for participants).
Donors
If you can help sponsor our grief support program, we would love to talk with you. Donations of $250 cover the costs of materials, facilitator fees and space for each session. Any donation helps and regular donations help the most with our planning. Please contact Executive Director Jenny Eldredge (jenny@mybellis.org or 952-944-0866) for more information.