Valerie's House Northwest Florida

01/13/2026

A new study shared by NPR found that regular physical activity, including gentle movement like yoga, can be just as effective as medication in easing symptoms of depression. We’re linking the article below because it puts words and research behind something we witness every day.

At Valerie’s House Northwest Florida, movement isn’t about fitness or performance. It’s about helping grieving children regulate their bodies, release stored tension, and feel connected again, to themselves and to one another.

Grief lives in the body. So healing often does too.

When kids breathe together, stretch together, and move together, they’re learning coping skills they can carry with them long after group night ends. No pressure. No perfection. Just presence.

📖 Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3NbF0I2

01/11/2026

If your grief feels heavier lately, you’re not imagining it.

Sometimes it’s not that the grief has grown, it’s that the world has. More stress. More noise. More to hold.

That doesn’t mean you’re doing this wrong. It doesn’t mean you’re losing ground. It means you’re carrying a lot.

Grief doesn’t wait for life to calm down. It shows up exactly where you are.

You don’t need to understand every feeling to be allowed to have it.

01/09/2026

Thank you for our birthday boxes, The Birthday Party Pensacola!!!

We delivered two birthday boxes this week to our friends at Valerie's House Northwest Florida! These will go to an 8-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl! ❤️🎊

01/09/2026

📣 Calling Caring Community Members & Local Professionals!

At Valerie’s House Pensacola, we know that grief doesn’t just affect the heart, it affects daily life. Schoolwork can suffer, routines get disrupted, and families often need more hands-on help. Research shows that children who lose a parent often experience lower school performance and struggle with focus, motivation, attendance, and feelings of isolation.

To better serve our families and support them as they rebuild and keep their children engaged in school and life, we are building a community resource directory of trusted local providers who can help with:

💙Academic tutoring or homework help
💜Babysitting or childcare support
💛Handyman services or home repairs
💚Car maintenance or transportation support
💙Haircuts or grooming services
💜Other life-needs like yard work, pet care, or errands

If you offer any of these services—whether for pay or volunteer—and want to be a resource to grief-impacted families in our region (Escambia & Santa Rosa Counties and beyond), please take two minutes to fill out our form [https://form.jotform.com/253084763017053]. We’ll keep your information secure and share it only with eligible families who reach out for support.

By volunteering your time or offering affordable services, you’ll be walking alongside families during a time when having reliable help can make all the difference. Together we ensure that no child grieves alone.

Thank you for being part of our community of care. ✨
— The Valerie’s House Pensacola Team

01/04/2026

When someone we care about is grieving, especially a child or teen, it’s common to worry about saying the wrong thing or not knowing how to help. 💛
The truth is, showing up matters more than having perfect words.

We love this simple, compassionate resource from the NACG National Alliance for Children's Grief that offers practical ways to support a friend who is grieving, what to say, what not to say, and how to keep showing up over time.

👉 Read and share here:
https://nacg.org/resources_directory/supporting-a-friend-who-is-grieving/?srsltid=AfmBOopopXZmP3iQ3lilKic69V3G1RrjMSgk17VA2NkJLyVR3M5Gb6_5

At Valerie’s House, we see every day how powerful peer support and compassionate presence can be. Sometimes the greatest gift is simply reminding someone they are not alone. 💙

Feel free to save or share this with someone who may need it.

01/02/2026

For many people, the holidays can be especially hard. They often shine a brighter light on what is missing and can leave a lingering heaviness once the season has passed. If this time of year felt more difficult than comforting, you are not alone.

If you are an adult looking for a place to talk, listen, or simply be with others who understand, we have several opportunities for support in our community:

💙 Adult Grief Support Group (Any Loss)
In partnership with Help and Hope Clinic, this group is open to adults grieving any type of loss.
📅 First Monday of each month
⏰ 1:00–2:30 PM
📍 1718 E. Olive Rd, Pensacola

💙 Young Adult Grief Group (Ages 18–27)
For young adults navigating life after the death of someone important.
📅 First Monday of each month
⏰ 6:00–7:30 PM
📍 Valerie’s House Northwest Florida

💙 Pregnancy & Infant Loss Group (Now Including Partners)
This group now welcomes partners as well. We know coming to group alone can be really hard, and partners need space to grieve out loud too.
📅 Third Wednesday of each month
⏰ 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 Valerie’s House Northwest Florida

To register for any of these sessions, please text us at 850-582-8255 or email info@valerieshousenwfl.org. We are here, and you do not have to carry this alone. 💙

01/01/2026

As this year comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on all that it held.

There were moments of joy and connection, moments of challenge, and moments that asked more of us than we expected. For many in our community, this season carries extra weight, and for others it is a quiet pause before something new.

At Valerie’s House, we are reminded that healing does not follow a calendar, and hope does not arrive on command. What matters most is showing up for one another, with compassion, patience, and care.

As we step into a new year, we carry forward the stories entrusted to us, the love that continues beyond loss, and a deep gratitude for the community that makes this work possible. Thank you for standing with grieving children and families, and for helping ensure no child has to grieve alone.

We look ahead with steady hope and open hearts. 🤍

12/30/2025

There are moments that remind us just how connected this community truly is. 💗

We are so happy to celebrate one of our Valerie’s House families, Lindsay and her children, who were chosen to receive Disney tickets through Jayla’s Voice; and Princess Jayla’s Magical Quest.

Jayla’s Voice was founded by another Valerie’s House family, which makes this moment feel especially meaningful. While we were not involved in the selection process, we are deeply moved by the beautiful alignment and the love behind this gift. Lindsay shared that her children have never been to Disney before, what an extraordinary opportunity for joy, memory-making, and healing, offered in loving honor of Princess Jayla’s life.

We believe so strongly in the power of families supporting families, and this moment is a perfect example of how shared grief can also create shared light. We are grateful to witness the way healing ripples outward when compassion leads the way.

We are honored to share Jayla’s Voice’s original post announcing this magical gift and invite our community to join us in celebrating Lindsay, her children, and the enduring legacy of Princess Jayla. ✨🏰

12/30/2025

Sometimes a package arrives at Valerie’s House with no note or return address.

While some donors choose to remain anonymous and others simply get lost in the details, the impact never does. Because of your generosity, our bookshelves are full of stories that help children feel seen, understood, and less alone.

To everyone who has donated from our Amazon wishlist, whether we know your name or not, thank you. Your love and support are deeply valued by our team and the families we serve.💛

12/28/2025

In this quiet space after Christmas, when the celebrations have passed and the new year hasn’t quite begun yet, many feelings can rise to the surface.

If it feels right, try writing down the “gifts” your person gave you. These might be physical things, but they can also be traditions, values, ways of loving, words they spoke, or lessons they taught that still live on in you.

This isn’t about forcing gratitude or rushing your grief. It’s simply a gentle way to remember that love continues, even when someone is no longer here.

Take this time at your own pace. We are holding space for you as you remember. 💙