Woodstock Day School Grief Space

My name is Isabella and I am a senior at Woodstock Day School. As a part of the senior year at my school, each senior is required to create a project that gives back to their community. My senior project is to create a dedicated space on campus for those grieving. This space is for people who’ve lost a loved one, experienced something traumatic, or just need to take a moment to breathe.
This project is very close to my heart because I lost my father when I was eight years old. It’s something that changed my life and will always be a big part of who I am. This is my way of turning the death of my father into something positive.
Since my school has always been a big help when I’m having a hard time with grieving, I want to leave something behind as a ‘thank you’ for them. This dedicated space is needed more than ever during the pandemic. With everyone stressed out about the future, some people just need to pause for a second and step back. We’re all experiencing something traumatic right now. Some people have experience dealing with trauma, and others don’t know how to handle it, I hope that this safe haven helps even just one person and makes their journey a bit easier.
My goal is to raise enough money to buy and place a shed on campus which will then be turned into the safe haven. Inside there will be a small library with books about how to deal with trauma for all ages. There will be a journal where those who visit the safe haven can leave behind pictures and write down their story. I hope that people will leave behind objects and photos that remind them of their loved ones who are no longer with us so that this place isn’t only a safe haven, but also a memorial. There will be a place for people to sit and read. I will also be painting the interior. One of the walls will be painted with chalkboard paint as a place for younger children to communicate how they're feeling. I hope to get the funds for this project before or at the beginning of spring so that I can place the shed on campus as soon as possible. I understand that this is a tough time to try and raise money because of the pandemic so anything helps.