Tidewell Community Hope Line, 855-930-HOPE, communityhope@tidewell.org.

Tidewell Hospice has remained committed to serving families with quality care and continuing its services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the halting of traditional in-person engagements, Tidewell was able to get creative in bringing its Blue Butterfly Family Grief Center services to its families. Children and caregivers from the program were invited to the Blue Butterfly Family Grief Center in Sarasota County for a drive-thru ice cream party, giving them a chance to see their Blue Butterfly family after four months of being apart. As part of the event, families were able to register for a virtual grief painting session in which they learned how to paint the program’s symbolic blue butterfly. During the painting session, children were encouraged to share feelings about their grief and the meaning behind their work. These events help grieving children and families stay connected and reassure them that they’re not alone, especially right now. “Our nation, our community, has perhaps never seen such isolation in the midst of such great loss and challenges,” said Tidewell President and CEO Jonathan Fleece. “We want our Blue Butterfly families, and anyone in our community who needs support, to know that they’re not alone during this time of tremendous anxiety, sadness and grief.”

Tidewell Community Hope Line, 855-930-HOPE, communityhope@tidewell.org.

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