| BRIDGES: A Center for Grieving Children |
Feelie Hearts
When BRIGES opened in 1988, larger red velvet hearts were held by our youngest children in their 
support group as they found comfort holding these hearts while sharing the circumstances that brought them to BRIDGES. The stories they told involved someone of significance in their lives who had died. Sometimes the death was sudden through an accident or sudden illness. Sometimes there had been a prolonged period of anticipating the death through a lengthy illness. At other times the death was by suicide or homicide. Whatever the story brought by the child, comfort was needed. Feelie Hearts provided something tangible and comforting to hold on to for these young grievers.
The Feelie Hearts have grown in popularity as BRIDGES started handing out Feelie Hearts to not only children that come to BRIDGES, but adults as well. Many put their heart in their pocket and take it with them to school, work, or werever they might need to be reminded that they are loved and cared for. Some have chosen to give their heart away to someone they know that is going through a difficult time. Stories have been written about circumstances in which the hearts were used. A teacher tells us about a child in her classroom who gave his small red
velvet Feelie Heart to a classmate who shared about her loss. A young girl gives her heart to her father when the parents divorce. Two young teens place their Feelie Hearts in their grandmother’s casket along with notes of special memories. BRIDGES Feelie Hearts have been mailed as far away as Australia and the Middle East as children send their messages of love, hope and healing to others who are experiencing pain. It is estimated that over 100,000 Feelie Hearts have been handed out at BRIDGES since the first children's group adopted the large velvet hearts in 1988.