Local Businesses Help Imagine Prepare Centers for a New Program Year

As Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss prepared to welcome children, teens, young adults, and families back for a new program year, a few local businesses stepped forward in a meaningful way — not only through financial contributions, but by rolling up their sleeves and helping make Imagine's Mountainside and Newark centers ready for the families who walk through their doors.

Throughout the summer, teams from Bona Vita Benefits, Wiss, and Komar volunteered their time to build, clean, organize, and prepare Imagine's spaces, while Laundrysmith of Springfield helped ensure linens and stuffed animals at the Mountainside center were freshly cleaned and ready for programming.

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At Imagine's new Newark center, Phil Shetsen and his team at Bona Vita Benefits jumped in wherever they were needed, helping build shelves, organize materials, and set up the space as Imagine prepared to expand programming in the community. Bona Vita Benefits also made a generous $2,500 contribution in support of Imagine's programs and families.

Diana Miller and the team at Wiss also spent a day volunteering at the Newark center, helping build, organize, and prepare the space. Miller has a longstanding connection to Imagine, having previously served as Chair of the Imagine Board and now as Chair of the Board Emeritus Council. Wiss has also been a longtime corporate supporter of Imagine's Seasons of Hope Breakfast and Greta's Run.

In Mountainside, a team from Komar volunteered in support of Imagine participant and Komar employee Tara K., spending the day cleaning, organizing, and preparing the center to welcome families back. Komar also contributed $10,000 to support Imagine's work throughout the year.

Laundrysmith of Springfield offered another important form of community support, generously cleaning Imagine's linens and stuffed animals so that the Mountainside center was fresh, comfortable, and ready for the start of programming.

Creating spaces where grieving children and families feel safe, comfortable, and cared for requires countless behind-the-scenes details. Shelves need to be built. Rooms need to be organized. Supplies need to be sorted. Stuffed animals, blankets, and linens need to be cleaned. Each task may seem small on its own, but together they help create an environment where families can walk in and feel welcomed.

"We are incredibly grateful for the financial support we receive from our corporate partners, but there is something especially meaningful about seeing people walk through our doors, give their time, and become part of preparing these spaces for our families," said Lindsay Schambach, Executive Director of Imagine. "It truly takes a village to do this work, and Bona Vita Benefits, Wiss, Komar, and Laundrysmith showed us exactly what that looks like."

Imagine extends its sincere thanks to Bona Vita Benefits, Wiss, Komar, and Laundrysmith for helping begin another program year with spaces ready to serve, support, and welcome the community.

Businesses and organizations interested in hosting a corporate in-service day at Imagine are encouraged to contact Nora Gallagher at nora@imaginenj.org.

About Imagine:

Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss is a 501c3 that offers training and education on loss and grief to the community and free year-round grief support groups for children ages 3-18 and young adults 19-30 who are coping with a loss due to death. Concurrently, support groups are available for the parents and caregivers of the children in the groups and offered in English and Spanish. Imagine has centers in Newark and Mountainside and offers virtual groups as well. For more information, please contact Imagine at 908-264-3100 or info@imaginenj.org or visit our website at www.imaginenj.org.