By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A local sanctuary just outside of Savannah has been helping provide widows and widowers with an escape from loss over the past year.
The Loss of Spouse Sanctuary provides several events and activities to bring like-minded individuals together to help refocus on themselves.
Board member Debbie Lyons says the purpose of the sanctuary is to help widows and widowers relax, rejuvenate, and refocus on being me instead of we.
"It is a social cry centered club for widows and widowers to get together, who understand how each other feels," Lyons tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "And we do so many, so many fun things to get them to find their joy again, to laugh with other like-minded individuals, to be able to find that joy that is missing when you are so lonely and lost without your spouse."
The Sanctuary has grown since its establishment in 2022, seeing more than 50 people come and join at the retreat
Lyons says they hold a bible study every Tuesday, but there are several other events to help bring people together.
"We do Saturday afternoon crafts, or game days, during the winter we did all afternoons because of the dark driving out on 71 Highway," Lyons explains. "But we do game night, we have movie night, we go out and eat lunch together sometimes in the daytime."
Lyons says they are also planning several summer events, including a fully loaded fishing pond that is on the property.
The Sanctuary is designed as an extension of the Griefshare program, helping out those who lost a loved one rediscover the joy in their lives.
Lyons says one of her greatest joys is watching people as they go through that journey.
"Knowing them from day one of their intense grief to seeing them get through loss and the smiles and the laughter and just, I'm going to tear up because it's so emotional to me, the joy on their faces when they are actually out and about socializing again is a God thing, it is a God thing," Lyons says.
To learn more about the Sanctuary or become a member you can click HERE.