Thx

Thank you letter for the week of Sept. 25

Thank you, merci, danke, gracias, gunalchéesh.

Thank you, JCF

I would like to publicly recognize and thank the Juneau Community Foundation and the Douglas-Dornan Foundation Fund for awarding a grant for $2,225 to Brave Heart Volunteers in Sitka. A special thank you goes to Paul Douglas, the Douglas-Dornan Fund Advisor, for his kind consideration and recommendation to award the grant.

Brave Heart Volunteers is a nonprofit organization that offers free social, emotional, and educational support services to Sitkans who are experiencing grief, loneliness, or nearing the end of life. For over twenty years, our volunteers have served at the bedsides of the dying, companioned elders who suffer profound loneliness, and provided bereavement support for the grieving. BHV also provides outstanding volunteer training, respite for caregivers, and community education on grief, loss, and death.

With the pandemic, most everyone experienced a heightened sense of isolation, loss, and grief. Pandemic restrictions also deprived those who lost loved ones, from observing customary funeral rituals, leaving them with unresolved grief. As such, BHV has seen a marked increase in requests for support as people seek healing ways to express and cope with their grief. Funding from the Douglas-Dornan Foundation will help BHV provide these essential services for grieving Sitkans.

Thank you again to the Juneau Community Foundation and the Douglas-Dornan Foundation Fund. We are deeply grateful for this grant.

In gratitude,

Angie DelMoral, Executive Director

Brave Heart Volunteers

More in Neighbors

Tortilla “dry soup” ready to consume. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Cooking For Pleasure: Tortilla ‘dry soup’ (sopa seca de tortillas)

This recipe is based upon one in an old Mexican cookbook I’ve… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Living and Growing: It is all about the resurrection

This past weekend Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection from… Continue reading

Decluttering starts with making room on a desk for a list. (Winnie Au/The New York Times)
Gimme A Smile: Declutter like a boss

I’m trying to declutter. I pronounce those words in the same abashed… Continue reading

A rainbow spans the University of Alaska Southeast campus in September of 2024. (University of Alaska Southeast photo)
Sustainable Alaska: Reading relations

For the program’s 14th iteration, UAS’s One Campus, One Book committee selected… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
Community calendar of upcoming events

This is a calendar updated daily of upcoming local events during the… Continue reading

(Photo provided by Gina Del Rosario)
Living and Growing: Holy Week

Filipinos are known all over the world for their strong faith in… Continue reading

The downtown Juneau cruise ship dock on a clear March day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Living and Growing: Seeking joy during times of great uncertainty

“This is the greatest act of power I have come to know:… Continue reading

Mary’s extreme bars, ready to slice. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Cooking For Pleasure: Mary’s extreme bars

For at least 20 years, my sister Mary Watson has been making… Continue reading

Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Living and Growing: Choose empathy during these difficult times

“It is your concern when your neighbor’s wall is on fire.” —… Continue reading

On a nice day it’s always safe to talk about the weather. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Gimme A Smile: What to say when you’ve got nothing to say

It could happen, right? Despite your very best efforts, you could find… Continue reading

Braised carrots with garlic and thyme, freshly cooked. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Cooking For Pleasure: Braised carrots with garlic and thyme

When I was growing up, my parents never, ever served cooked carrots… Continue reading

A black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Living and Growing: The bear

The folks of Southeast Alaska are fortunate in that we sometimes experience… Continue reading