Grief support isn’t just a conversation—it’s a lifeline. In this heartfelt episode, Tina Fornwald steps out from behind the mic to reveal how Widowhood Real Talk with Tina has grown into a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering concrete ways to help widows, widowers, and families heal. She shares exciting details about the upcoming “Hope Grows Here” 1960s-themed event in Norfolk, Virginia; explains how listeners can participate in the Children of Widowhood Secret Santa program; and highlights peer-to-peer grief support groups for men and for all adults. From scholarships to vendor opportunities, donations, and volunteering, this episode is a roadmap for anyone who wants to give or receive meaningful support on the journey through loss. I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.  Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World. — Watch the episode here   Listen to the podcast here   Hope Grows Here: Building A Grief Support Community Beyond The Mic You have been reading to Widowhood Real Talk with Tina for maybe a week, months or maybe years. Did you know there are ways to connect with this community? That’s what this show is about, sharing with you how to be a part of this amazing community. Let’s get into this conversation now. Welcome to Widowhood Real Talk with Tina. I’m pausing from talking to other people to share with you that we are more than sharing stories. Widowhood Real Talk with Tina is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and I want to give you an opportunity to connect. The first way that you can connect with us is to go to our website Widowhood-RealTalkWithTina.org. There is a free 90 days dealing with grief guides. Go to the website, provide your name and your email address. What that will do, it will also give you an opportunity to start receiving our newsletter on a regular basis. Hope Grows Here: A 60s Themed Event In May 2026 I want to share with you some of the information that you probably want to participate in. The first thing I want to share with you is the idea of our event, Hope Grows Here in May of 2026. I know you’re going, “May of 2026, Tina?” You need time to plan. You need time to get your ‘60s outfit together. You need time to register for the event here in Norfolk, Virginia and reserve your room at the DoubleTree Hotel. You need time to think about the widow or family that you want to support. You need time to be able to think about, “Do I want to be a vendor? Is this the opportunity to bring my arts and crafts, my skills, or my oils?” Maybe you have something that you design. Maybe you need time to figure out what you want to donate to the silent auction. We are planners here at Widowhood Real Talk with Tina and we know that you want to show up with your best. Sometimes, this may be the first opportunity for you as a widow, a widower, or someone in the grief community to travel since your loved one has passed. It may take time to be able to prepare yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually to step out, to come and do something fun for you. That’s why we’re planning early. If you go to our website Widowhood-RealTalkWithTina.org, select the event in the drop-down menu from there, and select Hope Grows Here. You will see details about being a vendor. The vendor fee is $50 for a table, and then to purchase your tickets. The tickets are $65 for your plated meal. You may want to sponsor a widow. Maybe you are not able to attend but you would like to sponsor for a widow to attend. You can email me at WidowhoodRealTalk@Gmail.com, and I can provide you details on that. Maybe you would like to donate to the college scholarship fund and you go, “Why do we need a college scholarship fund?” Let me tell you why. When someone loses a partner or a parent, they may no longer have the funds to be able to cover college for children. Maybe that widow or widower needs to go back into the workforce to obtain a livable wage. They may need some type of educational training to be able to attain a better job. Widowhood Real Talk with Tina would like to be able to support them in obtaining the education, the skill and the trade that they would need to return to the workforce to obtain a livable wage. This event of Hope Grows Here was specifically geared to have fun and also to help others. I understand the idea of going to a dress-up event may be triggering the last time that you did something with your spouse and that’s why we’re dressing in ‘60s. Yes, we are also celebrating my 60th birthday at this event, but this is the opportunity for the community at large to get together, to have fun, dance, celebrate and to meet each other and know that we are growing in this process together. Other ways that you can support is a one-time donation. You could share the link on social media. You could share this show with someone that you think would enjoy the opportunity to come to the greater Hampton Roads area. The airport is literally around the corner from the event, and there’s a shopping center close by too, called the Outlets. If you like shopping, that’s something to consider also.     Secret Santa: Supporting Children In The Widowhood Community There’s golfing and a lot of other different things to do. Look up what you can do while you’re here in Norfolk, Virginia. Virginia Beach is just