December 2023 - Candle Lighting

This year's TCF Worldwide Candle Lighting will take place on Sunday, December 10th over at Larchmont Avenue Church 60 Forest Park Ave.,  Larchmont, NY.  We will meet in the church's Russell Hall  (entrance through double doors on Forest Park Ave.) room no later than 6:30pm. We'll begin at about 6:45 and by 7:00pm, candles will be carefully lit, one by one, in loving memory of the children, siblings & grandchildren we have lost.  Following our candle lighting will have some simple dishes and light beverages to share. 

Special care must be taken in the lighting & holding of your lit candle. 

Please let us know if you'll be joining us. It's important to know approximately how many to expect.

Dawn Moriwaki

The Compassionate Friends

White Plains Chapter Leader

dawn.tcf@gmail.com

October 2023 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

The Compassionate Friends is a self-help support organization for those who've lost a child, a sibling or a grandchild. Our group, the White Plains Chapter in White Plains, New York, meets the first Thursday of each month over at The White Plains Presbyterian Church, 39 North Broadway in White Plains. Our meeting begins at 7pm and runs to 9pm. There is no fee to attend. It's helpful (but not required) to contact us prior to attending, as a way to be familiar with your specific loss. 

If you have any additional questions, please call our chapter phone line: (914) 381-3389 or email us at dawn.tcf@gmail.com.

We are here to help . You need not walk alone on this grief journey......We are The Compassionate Friends. 

In Friendship,

Dawn Moriwaki (Kaitlyn's Mom )

TCF White Plains Chapter Leader

March 2023 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF March 2023

The Compassionate Friends is a self-help support organization for those who've lost a child, a sibling or a grandchild. Our group, the White Plains Chapter in White Plains, New York, meets the first Thursday of each month over at The White Plains Presbyterian Church, 39 North Broadway in White Plains. Our meeting begins at 7:00pm and ends between 9-9:30pm. There is no admission, nor is it necessary to register to attend. (It is helpful to contact us in advance, so we may be prepared to greet you with more familiarity.)

If you have any additional questions, please call our chapter phone line: (914) 381-3389 or email us at dawn.tcf@gmail.com.

We are here to help . You need not walk alone on this grief journey......We are The Compassionate Friends. 

In Friendship,

Dawn Moriwaki (Kaitlyn's Mom )

TCF White Plains Chapter Leader

December 2022 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF December 202

We will be having our December meeting in person at the White Plains Presbyterian Church on Thursday, the 1st, at 7:00pm. This month we will be meeting in a larger space, called the Church House Room. Follow signs into the main hallway, and proceed all the way down (past the Conference Room, where we normally meet), down a few steps and then, turn left. You'll then make your way (with signs posted to guide you), into the Church House Room. For those unfamiliar with our meetings, park in the rear parking lot (entering from Barker Ave.), and once parked, come into the last set of red double doors on the far left (facing the back of the building). Masks are no longer mandatory, however, use your best judgement if you aren't feeling your best, have a compromised immune system or living with someone whose health must be guarded.

We will devote the first half of our time together to the usual format in our meetings. We will then devote the second half to a candle lighting to honor the children, siblings & grandchildren we have lost. Refreshments will be available when the candle lighting concludes.

NOTE: The TCF Worldwide Candle Lighting event will not be held by our chapter this year. This ceremony, which will be held in many other chapters around the country on Sunday, December 11th at 7pm, is something you are free to engage in at your own home, or contact the national office to see about availability in joining in a virtual opportunity through their office.

Dawn Moriwaki (leader - TCF White Plains Chapter)

Kaitlyn's Mom

dawn.tcf@gmail.com

November 2022 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF November 2022

We will be having our November meeting in person at the White Plains Presbyterian Church on Thursday, the 3rd, at 7:00pm in the Conference Room. Please access our space by parking in the rear parking lot (entering from Barker Ave.), and once parked, walk to the far left end of the back of the church. Enter where you see the TCF White Plains Chapter poster with the butterfly, posted on the red double doors. Follow additional signs inside that lead to the Conference Room. Masks are no longer mandatory; however, use your best judgement if you aren't feeling your best, have a compromised immune system or living with someone whose health must be guarded. 

If you have questions, be sure to email me at dawn.tcf@gmail.com.

The Remembrance Tree 2022

Annual Ribbon Ceremony - Sunday, November 20th at 2:00pm

The Remembrance Tree became a reality when two families forged a friendship after losing their daughters. The idea of the Remembrance Tree was born out of a desire to unite other families in our community who have lost children of any age, from any cause, and for whom the holidays are truly challenging. There is a need to express that their children are remembered, and this is a special way in which that idea can be realized.

 We invite you to join us Sunday afternoon. For some, this might be your first time participating.  For those of you who have joined us in years past, we look forward, once again, to being together.

 This annual event will take place in the Larchmont park located on the corner of Palmer Avenue and Weaver Street. (Parking along the street on Palmer is your best bet.) We invite you to bring a white ribbon with the name of your child written on it so that it may be tied to a branch of the tree.  This will be a reminder during the winter holidays that our children’s light continues to shine. 

 Additionally, it's up to each of us to gauge our own boundaries for social distancing. Good common sense must prevail in this setting. (If you're not feeling well, for example - have a fever, chills or cold-like symptoms, please come by another time to tie your ribbon on. If you're someone who has a weak immune system, you know what you need to do for yourself.)

 If you have any questions, email me at dawn.tcf@gmail.com or call (914) 834-0185.

September 2022 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF September 2022

We will be meeting at The White Plains Presbyterian Church at 39 N. Broadway, this Thursday, September 1st, for our monthly in-person meeting. We'll begin at 7:00pm, and while we must continue to wear a mask during the entire time we are in the church, we all do the best we can to maintain comfort while speaking up to be heard. Our mask wearing will not deter us from sharing time with one another! 

Next Thursday, September 8th, our Zoom meeting will take place at 7:00pm. If you'd like to join in for that, please email me for the link & password. I'd be glad to send it to you. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to inquire. 

Take good care,

Dawn Moriwaki - Kaitlyn's Mom

dawncrista@gmail.com

August 2022 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

We will meet this Thursday, the 4th, at 7:00pm for our August meeting of the White Plains Chapter of The Compassionate Friends. As always, we will meet at The White Plains Presbyterian Church at 39 North Broadway, with the side entrance to the back parking on Barker Ave. Enter the red double doors on the far left of the building, as you face the back of the church. Follow the signs posted to the Conference Room. Masks must be worn, as we continue to self-protect, as well as protecting others. There is no set theme or topic for this evening, but we will solicit ideas as we conclude, for the following month. Call the chapter phone line with any questions - (914) 381-3389. A call back will happen soon after.

Take good care,

Dawn Moriwaki - Kaitlyn's Mom

dawncrista@gmail.com

July 2022 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

We are meeting this Thursday, July 7th, at 7:00pm, over at The White Plains Presbyterian Church for our monthly gathering. We've been holding court in The Conference Room that's located at the midsection of the hallway, and best accessed by entering the set of red double doors found at the far left of the back of the building. (Parking is in the back as well, turning from Barker Ave. into the parking lot.) We continue to be masked while we share time together in the room, and while I check with the church office each month to learn of any changes, we must continue to make good decisions, as Covid is sadly, not a virus of the past. We advise that if you're not feeling your best, please come next month instead. (Snacks are welcome & appreciated, but we recommend individually wrapped items for safe munching.)

If you cannot make the meeting on the 7th, you can still join us the following Thursday - the 14th - for a Zoom meeting, also at 7:00pm. If you are interested, please email me at dawncrista@gmail.com. Establishing contact will pave the way for having the Zoom link & password sent to you.

In Friendship,

Dawn Moriwaki - TCF White Plains Chapter Leader

Kaitlyn's Mom

May 2022 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

As we continue our tradition of gathering on the first Thursday of the month, we will be meeting at the White Plains Presbyterian Church at 7:00pm. No temperatures need to be taken but a mask is still expected, per the mandate of the church office. We look forward to seeing you there. Be sure to enter, from the back of the church (where there is parking available), following the path along the right of the children's fenced in playground. You will see a laminated sign of the double doors, welcoming you to our group.

Warmly,

Dawn Moriwaki

Kaitlyn's Mom 🦋

April 2022 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

Update:

Tonight's TCF meeting - Thursday, April 7th - has been shifted from an in-person meeting at the church, to a Zoom meeting; still at 7:00pm. The weather is forecast for lots of rain, thunderstorms and potential flooding, so the shift to Zooming made the most sense. Contact me before 6:30, if you'd like to join the meeting. (dawncrista@gmail.com)

Warmly,

Dawn Moriwaki

Kaitlyn's Mom 🦋

March 2022 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

With time, vigilance and great care for ourselves and each other, the Covid 19 numbers have been coming down steadily and inspiring great hope for our future. With that in mind, we will be planning to meet in person at the White Plains Presbyterian Church for our March meeting, this Thursday, March 3rd, at 7:00pm. As you continue to be cautious and make good decisions, we will no longer be doing temperature checks at the door, BUT we will ask to see your vaccination/booster card (unless we have record that you've already shown it), and we must also continue to wear masks while inside the church. These are mandated by the White Plains Presbyterian Church. If you cannot make this Thursday's meeting, I will be holding a Zoom meeting next Thursday, March 10th, at 7:00pm. Email me if you think you'd want to join in. (dawncrista@gmail.com). Wishing you good health, and the comfort of knowing that in your grief and sorrow, you are not alone.

Warmly,

Dawn Moriwaki

TCF White Plains Chapter leader

(Kaitlyn's Mom) 🦋

February 2022 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

We are continuing our practice of meeting remotely, and so, for our February meeting, we will be meeting on Zoom, Thursday, February 3rd, at 7:00pm. If you'd like to be part of the Zoom gathering, please email me at dawncrista@gmail.com. I will then email you with the link and password for our meeting.

Take good care of yourselves and of each other. We need to do our very best to stay safe and follow the necessary protocols. I know that we're all anxious to get back to meeting in person.

Warmly,

Dawn Moriwaki

TCF White Plains Chapter leader

(Kaitlyn's Mom) 🦋

January 2022 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

We've arrived at a new year, and I can only wish you good health and emphasize the importance of maintaining a sense of hope, safety and possibilities for our future. We grieving parents, siblings and grandparents have been through too much already, and we need to be mindful about self-care, self-compassion and being proactive for ways to achieve some happiness in our lives. We deserve that.

After careful thought and conferring with some of our members, the decision has been made to not meet in person for the January 6th meeting at the White Plains Presbyterian Church. The church office has already been notified that we will, instead, meet via Zoom, on that Thursday evening at 7:00pm. If you would like to be part of the Zoom please email me at: dawncrista@gmail.com. I will add you to the list of participants and send you the link and the password.

Take good care of yourselves, and of each other.

Warmly,

Dawn Moriwaki - Chapter Leader (and Kaitlyn's Mom) 🦋

December 2021 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

Worldwide TCF Candle Lighting Event

With advice & guidance from the church officials, we have plans to join together in person for our annual Worldwide TCF Candle Lighting event. We will meet in the church's sanctuary on Sunday, December 12th, at about 6:30. We'll begin at about 6:45 and by 7:00pm, candles will be carefully lit, one by one, in loving memory of the children, siblings & grandchildren we've lost.

Proof of vaccination, if not already provided, must be shown to us upon entering. Temperatures will also be taken and masks must be worn the entire time we are in the church building.

Special care must be taken in the lighting & holding of your lit candle. We will have plenty of candles in their holders but if you have a candle from home you are more comfortable holding, please feel free to bring it. If you cannot join us in person, please remember to light a candle at your home at the same time.

We are not allowed to share in the food dishes we have enjoyed in the past, and while we may lament that reality, we will stay positive and look toward to better days in the face of this ongoing pandemic.

Please contact me at dawncrista@gmail.com or leave a message on the White Plains Chapter phone line - (914) 381-3389 - if you'll be joining us. I will be compiling a list to know how many to expect.

In honor of our children, siblings & grandchildren,

Dawn Moriwaki - Chapter Leader (and Kaitlyn's Mom) 🦋

October 2021 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

October 2021 - As the weather gets cooler, we've now been holding in-person meetings at the White Plains Presbyterian Church, and those who have participated were fully vaccinated, wore masks, had temperatures taken, and sat in socially distanced seats.

This will be the case, going forward, for our October 7th meeting, held at 7:00pm at The White Plains Presbyterian Church, with entrance and parking in the back, as you follow along the walkway on the right of the enclosed playground. We continue to give our best effort to keep covid 19 out of our realm. We will take this month by month, as more and more community members get vaccinated, and covid numbers are brought down to the lowest rate possible.

We will also continue with our monthly Zoom gatherings, and you are encouraged to reach out to reserve a spot for one in the near future. Email me at dawncrista@gmail.com or call me: (914) 715-8338. Be sure to leave your name, the nature of your loss and I will call you right back.

We are inching back to something that resembles the lives we led before, but as we always say to one another, our lives will never be the same since the passing of our child, our sibling, or our grandchild.

Please take good care of yourselves; self-care and self-kindness are extremely important.

Warmly,

Dawn Moriwaki - Chapter Leader (and Kaitlyn's Mom) 🦋

August 2021 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

We'll be having another 'in-person' meeting for our White Plains Chapter, this Thursday, August 5th, over at The White Plains Presbyterian Church, 39 North Broadway in White Plains, at 7:00pm. News of the recent - and troubling - Delta variant, have meant increased numbers of Covid positive cases throughout the area and beyond. Folks who attend must be fully vaccinated (be prepared to show your vaccination card, unless you previously provided proof), wear a mask during our time together inside the church, and have your temperature checked at the door by one of our volunteer members. This is the way we've done it the last 3 months and it is mandated by the church leaders. Let me know if you have any questions, with email: dawncrista@gmail.com.

July 2021 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

Summer's temperatures are causing quite a simmer in White Plains and the surrounding areas, and the members of our TCF White Plains Chapter must adjust, keep cool and hydrate for our continued self-protection. Living our lives in a steady state of grief and sorrow challenges even the strongest and most resilient; adding the swelter of July's heat just exacerbates already difficult circumstances.

We will meet, once again, in person over at the White Plains Presbyterian Church for an in-person gathering, at 7:00pm this Thursday, July 1st. Proof of being fully vaccinated is mandatory. Additionally, by mandate of the church heads, temperatures will be taken at the door by volunteers, and you must wear a mask for the entire time you're inside the church. We will have hand sanitizer on hand, for your convenience.

I look forward to seeing you there, and if you cannot make it, we will be offering a Zoom meeting to take place on the third Thursday of this month. Contact me at: dawncrista@gmail.com to reserve your Zoom spot.

Email me any questions, comments or concerns you may have. Please take good care of yourselves.

In Friendship,

Dawn Moriwaki - Chapter Leader (and Kaitlyn's Mom) 🦋

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June 2021 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

As the weather warms up, with intermittent rains giving way to more sunshine and humidity, we allow ourselves to bask in the warmth of rays; rays of hope, of friendship, and possibilities for ourselves and our families. We can only try our best to imagine them, and then actualize them.

In May, we held our first in-person meeting at the White Plains Presbyterian Church, and those who participated were fully vaccinated, wore masks, had temperatures taken, and sat in socially distanced seats. This will be the case for the June meeting, as we, once again, send out invitation emails - our best effort to keep covid 19 out of our realm. We will take this month by month, as more and more community members get vaccinated, and covid numbers are brought down to the lowest rate possible.

We will also continue with our monthly Zoom gatherings, and you are encouraged to reach out to reserve a spot for one in the near future. Email me at dawncrista@gmail.com or call me: (914) 715-8338. Be sure to leave your name, the nature of your loss and I will call you right back.

We are inching back to something that resembles the lives we led before, but as we always say to one another, our lives will never be the same since the passing of our child, our sibling, or our grandchild. Please take good care of yourselves; self-care and self-kindness are extremely important.

In Friendship,

Dawn Moriwaki - Chapter Leader (and Kaitlyn's Mom) 🦋

May 2021 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

As the season of spring continues to provide views of beauty, renewal and abiding hope, we look for ways to hold ourselves up. Gardening, exercising, reaching out to friends and neighbors, dining out again at favorite eateries and soaking in the lovely surroundings ...all these activities and more give us reasons to, hopefully, smile. Many are getting the vaccine, and perhaps you are among them. While we are still viewing it to be unwise to meet in person in the unrestricted way we traditionally did before, we are holding our first-Thursday-of-the-month meeting for the month of May, at The White Plains Presbyterian Church in White Plains, by limited invitation, in order to 'test the waters'. In candid discussions with the church, we have been navigating the steps - and protocols - necessary to create the safest environment for our meeting. Several rules have been mandated by the church, which we are obligated to follow. I will report on the degree of success we're able to achieve. In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and stay connected to the people who have shown the most care for you and your family. It's important that we lift each other up, as well as caring for ourselves, the best we can. We will continue holding Zoom meetings for those who are interested, so please contact me at dawncrista@gmail.com if you'd like to participate. Also, if you'd like me to call you, either email me at the above address, or leave a detailed message on our chapter phone line. (914) 381-3389. I would be glad to return your call so that we could talk soon.

In Friendship, always,

Dawn Moriwaki (chapter leader - Kaitlyn's Mom)

April 2021 - The White Plains Chapter of TCF

I want to extend lovely wishes for a springtime of great hope and healing renewal. Due to the ongoing covid 19 pandemic restrictions, and despite the fact that many are getting the vaccine, we are still viewing it to be unwise to meet in person for our first-Thursday-of-the-month meetings at The White Plains Presbyterian Church in White Plains. I am in the process of having discussions with the church, as we navigate the steps - and protocols - necessary to create the safest foundation for our next 'in-person' meeting. Please take good care of yourselves in the best ways that you know how. Stay connected to the people who have shown the most care and concern for you and your family. It's important that we try everyday, to lift each other up. It just takes a small gesture to let someone know that you care. We are holding Zoom meetings for those who are interested, so please contact me at dawncrista@gmail.com if you'd like to participate. Also, if you'd like me to call you, either email me at the above address, or leave a detailed message on our chapter phone line. (914) 381-3389. I would be glad to return your call so that we could talk soon.

In Friendship, with hope abiding,

Dawn Moriwaki - Chapter Leader (and Kaitlyn's Mom) 🦋