BUFFALO, N.Y. — New state funding is helping parents and kids who are dealing with traumatic loss.
Assemblywoman Monica Wallace announced a $500,000 grant, to help build the first grief center in Western New York.
The center will be under P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative.
The center will be for anyone in the area that needs access to counseling and support groups.
"Being part of P.U.N.T. and their ultimate compassion program has connected me, my wife, and our 8 year old son Henry, who was five when his little brother died, with so many amazing people who have experienced these kind of unimaginable circumstances. The peer support from this group has been lifeline to us all," said Jonathan McGrath, Asst. Director of P.U.N.T..
"From the Tops shooting, to the blizzard of 2022, to the COVID pandemic, a center like this will serve as an oasis of grief for so many families in our region," said Assemblywoman Monica Wallace (D-143rd District).
Wallace says this money is just the start, and will go towards programming with a bigger plan to have an actual building in the future.