As the year draws to a close, Grief Support Services is inviting the community to take part in its annual Give the Gift of Counselling appeal.

The campaign raises funds to ensure professional grief counselling remains accessible for local people struggling to cope after a loss.

For many, grief can be complicated and overwhelming. Some people experience traumatic losses or losses that are not easily spoken about, some have limited support from friends and family, while others need extra help to make sense of what has happened, said Grief Support Services general manager Deanna Wharton.

Grief Support Services provides a safe and caring space for people to talk about their experiences and begin to rebuild their lives, Wharton said.

“Every week we meet people who are doing their best to keep going but are feeling stuck or alone.

“Counselling gives people the chance to talk freely and to learn ways of managing their grief. It can make an enormous difference in their ability to heal and reconnect with life.”

Each year, hundreds of individuals and families/whānau across Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty benefit from counselling through the organisation, Wharton said.

The service employs fully qualified counsellors, who are specialists in loss and grief, and supports people from young children to older adults.

Grief Support Services general manager Deanna Wharton says it aims to make counselling available to anyone who needs it. Photo / David Hall

Donations to the Give the Gift of Counselling appeal directly fund counselling sessions for those who may otherwise be unable to afford them. Every dollar raised helps to provide a lifeline for people facing grief, loss and major life changes.

“Our goal is to make counselling available to anyone who needs it,” Wharton said. “People come to us after losing a loved one, a relationship, or even a sense of identity. Every story is different, but what remains the same is the importance of being heard and supported.”

All donations above $40 will receive a set of 15 gift labels designed by Tauranga artist Paulene Longley of Flossiphy Art & Design, while stocks last. Donations received before December 20 will have gift cards posted before Christmas, while other donations will have gift labels sent out in early January.

To donate, visit www.griefsupport.org.nz/appeal2025, or stop by the office at 147 Chadwick Rd, Greerton, to donate by cash or eftpos.

“Every contribution, no matter the size, helps someone in our community find the strength to move forward,” Wharton said. “Together, we can give the gift of counselling and the gift of hope.”