Justin Kase

01/11/2024

31/10/2024

29/10/2024

What a huge honor this is!

Valerie’s House CEO Angela Melvin and Board Chair Mike McMurray receive 2024 Nonprofit Leader and Board Member of the Year awards, honoring their impact in Southwest Florida.

25/10/2024

👑 Help Us Make Our Prince & Princess Party Magical! 👑

We’re counting down to our Prince & Princess Party on Wednesday, October 30th, and we need your help to make this night truly unforgettable for our kids! ✨

This event is all about giving our children the chance to feel special, have fun, and just be kids. But to make it happen, we’re still in need of sponsors, especially a dinner sponsor to provide a meal for our families. 🍽️

If you or someone you know can sponsor dinner ($250) or contribute in any way, you can help us create an experience fit for royalty! 👑

Let’s come together to bring joy and magical memories to these amazing kids. 💙

25/10/2024

I’m very thankful for WINK News sharing this awesome story!

Valerie’s House is proud to unveil the Heart Memorial at our Fort Myers Family is Forever Home, a space for grieving families to honor loved ones by placing a lock on the memorial. Special thanks to WINK News for sharing this beautiful moment and helping us raise awareness of our grief support ser...

25/10/2024

Please help make this day really special for our kids.

👑 Help Us Make Our Prince & Princess Party Magical! 👑

We’re counting down to our Prince & Princess Party on Wednesday, October 30th, and we need your help to make this night truly unforgettable for our kids! ✨

This event is all about giving our children the chance to feel special, have fun, and just be kids. But to make it happen, we’re still in need of sponsors, especially a dinner sponsor to provide a meal for our families. 🍽️

If you or someone you know can sponsor dinner ($250) or contribute in any way, you can help us create an experience fit for royalty! 👑

Let’s come together to bring joy and magical memories to these amazing kids. 💙

24/10/2024

Can you stop by for a few minutes next month? We’d love to have you. 

💙 Ever wondered what happens at Valerie’s House? 💙

Join us for our Open House on Friday, November 8th from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM at the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home! In honor of Children’s Grief Awareness Month, we’re welcoming you to meet our team, tour our space, and learn how we support grieving children.

Whether you work with kids or know a family in need of grief support, stop by and see how you can get involved. Light refreshments will be served.

📍 3551 Shoemaker Lane, Fort Myers, FL 33916

Together, we can ensure no child grieves alone. 💙

Questions? Call 239-204-5804 or email [email protected].

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21/10/2024

19/10/2024

A really beautiful ceremony took place tonight to unveil a really meaningful new addition to Valerie’s House. We talked with the Heart Memorial’s designer who happens to be a Valerie’s House parent, about the inspiration behind this. It’s a story of both pain and love ❤️

https://valerieshouse.org/vh-blog/2024/9/18/valeries-house-to-unveil-heart-memorial-honoring-loved-ones-lost-a-symbol-of-healing-and-connection

17/10/2024

I hear it from so many volunteers at Valerie‘s House that they wish they had a place like this at some point in their lives when they first experienced loss.

If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to me. It doesn’t have to be a major time commitment. A few hours a month really does make a difference. 

15/10/2024

💙 Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

At Valerie’s House, we stand with families who have experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. Today, we honor these lives and acknowledge the importance of breaking the silence surrounding these losses.

If you or someone you love is grieving, know that you are not alone. We are now offering a support group for parents who have experienced this profound loss. Our next meeting will be held on October 21st from 6:00-7:30 PM at Valerie’s House, 3551 Shoemaker Lane, Fort Myers.

These meetings are free, open to anyone affected, and offer a compassionate space for healing.

For more information or to enroll, please contact Susan M. Rizzato, MSW, LCSW at 239-322-4083 or email [email protected].

11/10/2024

I wanted to check in quickly with an update on Valerie's House. I am thankful to report that each of the locations (Fort Myers, Naples, and Punta Gorda) is okay.

The primary area that suffered damage was the secondary building at our Charlotte County home, which is used for teen groups and counseling.

What's even more amazing is how the community is coming together so quickly to help us bounce back quickly and continue serving grieving families.

07/10/2024

Important info for VH families. Please Read.

For the safety of our families and staff, we want to inform you that all Valerie's House locations in Southwest Florida will be closed from October 7th to October 11th, 2024. This includes our Naples location, the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home, and the Charlotte County location in Punta Gorda.

05/10/2024

Tattooed Grief is our upcoming podcast episode. In it, we explore grief-related tattoos with the artists who create these lasting memorials. We also hear from families and staff members who have their own memorial tattoos.

I'm sharing this post in case anyone has a tattoo remembering a loved one they'd like to share.

Were building a photo gallery of all of these tattoos on ValeriesHouse.org

04/10/2024

We have a lot of loving and thoughtful, community partners, and this is one of them. 

01/10/2024

A cool event if you’d like to support local grieving kids.

👑✨ The Royal Party is Almost Here! ✨👑

Mark your calendars for the Prince & Princess Party on Wednesday, October 30th, from 5-8 PM at our Forever Home! Last year was incredible, but this year will be even more magical! 🎉

Here’s what we have in store: 💄 Glam Makeovers by Ms. Lexi’s Place
🎨 Balloon Animals & Face Painting with Casey the Clown
💅 Nail Painting sponsored by Elements Lounge
🐾 Therapy Dogs in Costume
📸 Photo Booth Fun
👑 Special Guests from Princess Entertainment of SWFL
🧁 Bubbly Drinks, Crafts, & More!

We’re still looking for sponsors to make this night extra special! Can you help? 💙

Food Sponsor ($250)
Balloon Arch & Décor ($300)
Photo Booth Sponsor ($550)
Princess Costumes (Sizes 4/5-Adult Medium)
Prince Costumes (Sizes 4/5-Adult Medium)
Craft Sponsor ($200)
Bubbly Bee Sponsor, including drinks & candy toppers ($700)
Help make this night magical for the kids and families we serve! 🌟

01/10/2024

A cool moment we get to celebrate as a Valerie’s House family.

28/09/2024

Today marks two years since Hurricane Ian changed our community forever. While the signs of recovery may be visible on the outside, we know many are still grieving the losses from that day—lives, homes, and ways of life. Grief isn't always about death; it’s about all the changes we never expected.

For many of us, Hurricane Helene may have stirred up painful memories and feelings that still exist inside. At Valerie’s House, we believe there is no timeline for grief, and it’s okay to still be hurting. We’re here with you, Southwest Florida. Healing takes time, and together, we’ll continue to rebuild—both externally and internally.

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22/09/2024

There are a lot of special people in this organization, making sure they show love to people who need to feel it. 

20/09/2024

18/09/2024

18/09/2024

FOX 4's Victoria Scott highlights the transformative impact of Valerie's House Charlotte County, showcasing how the nonprofit helps grieving children and families heal after loss.

12/09/2024

12/09/2024

I got to spend a full day last weekend on a boat with Goliath Fishing! He has his own show on ESPN. He took several of the kids from Valerie's House out during a fishing tournament. The video link is in the web story.

Valerie’s House teens enjoyed a memorable fishing trip with world-renowned Captain James Marko at the 2024 Calusa Sportsman Foundation Inshore Benefit. This special day was made possible by a generous donor who gifted the experience to our teens. Learn more about this incredible event.

03/09/2024

I’ve seen some beautiful sunsets over the years 🌅