Ele's Place - Capital Region - Lansing, Michigan

S G.

If Elie’s Place would not have existed when my family went through the most difficult time in our lives, I don’t know where we would be. It was imperative for my child and (me) to understand at that moment in time that we were not alone and others could relate, others had far more traumatic experiences from
Others of us, so you realize real quick you are with people that get you, can help you, and can share in your pain along with your healing. You guys were the first people I called to get advise on how to tell
My son. I instantly went to wanting to lie. In my brain to protect him. After talking to the specialists they made it clear that children need to be told the truth within reason to their age
Of the cause. You start lying to a child that has suffered something this large or small and you immediately make them feel unsafe. I appreciate everything Elie’s Place did for us and so many others.

From
The moment I walked In
Front door I felt comfort. Even as an earth shattered, sobbing, zombie, just the shell of the person I knew to be up until 12 hours prior. Just moving through the motions. It’s a blur during those first few weeks. What is not a blur is how I was treated by the entire team at Elie’s Place. The calm, the listening without saying a word,
Providing material. Welcoming my little boy with the immediate choice of what stuffed animal
He would like to take home. We were at our most vulnerable and never once did we feel judged, uncomfortable, unsupported, being validated that whatever feelings you are feeling towards the person, the situation, yourself, it is OK. It’s more than Ok, it’s normal and healthy and a way to heal. Another thing they taught me that I found invaluable that is when you introduce yourself you say who passed, their name and who they were to you. It makes you say the words out loud that crush your soul. Knowing the more you say it and it processes the more you heal.

Without knowing we had weekly meetings to just feel loved and understood made that first year bearable. I can’t thank Elie’s Place enough and if you have the resources please consider donating. This helps so many family and children. Children need this. A traumatic experience with death can impact a child for their entire life. And to some extent it will always have somewhat of an impact. But that impact doesn’t have to be negative, trauma filled emotions. We can heal, we can cry, we can be angry, and we can then collect ourselves utilize the tools Elie’s Place and other sources have provided to get through with minutes without crying or being angry, to hours between those different ever changing emotions, to multiple
Days passing and not so many strong emotions. More settled. More processed. With the hope of each day getting just a little more bearable . It’s a very long process and proper care is essential. I believe Elie’s Place is essential.

Steve R.

I volunteer here with my therapy dog Beau and have found a forever home. The work that the staff and volunteers do is amazing. Everyone is treated with love and caring that you can feel just being in the building. If your children ever need support after the passing of a loved one Ele's Place is where you need to start. You will be treated to the most supportive family of friends that will last forever. Please don't struggle through a loss alone when Ele's Place is here for support

shauntel S.

As my family and I go through our grieving process Ellie's place has been such a great relief and support on our journey 🙏🏽💟🙏🏽 sometimes just talking to people going through the same things makes life a little bit easier to cope!

Jackson U.

Words can’t even begin to express how important Eles Place has become in our lives. Never did we want to have to be there but after a very tragic loss they were the first place I reached out to and the care and compassion shown has been nothing short of amazing. I didn’t think we would ever start to heal but slowly and with credit to Eles Place we are heading in the right direction. If you have a child that has suffered a loss of someone close to them please reach out to them. You won’t regret it. Or if you have the resources to make a donation please consider them, these children are so loved and supported and a place like Eles Place wouldn’t exist without the community helping.

Jeremy H.

The work done here is so important. Grief is a fickle beast that we all deal with on a personal level. To have support and a group of people that share your feelings is second to none in dealing with any traumatizing situation. Thank you Ele's Place for being a beacon of light in so many people's dark journeys.

Jon L.

This organization is as socialist as can be. They will insist people be there who really don't need the facility.

Breanna R.

I recently lost my father in a very traumatic way, I was referred to Ele's Place by the Sparrow Hospital. Before you can go to group meetings there you have to do an intake meeting and sign a bunch of forms So today I got a call from a worker there trying to schedule an intake meeting. Never have I been so appalled and angered by the unproffressionalism by this woman. I was trying to get a better understanding of what exactly what the intake meeting would entail, instead of being courteous and friendly she replied: "Oh, someone didn;t explain this to you already?" In the most nasty tone you could imagine. Instead of informing me about what Ele's Palce does she sounded annoyed and unenthuiastic about every aspect of the conversation, not exactly what a grieving person seeking help is looking for. She continued to stress to me taht Ele's Place wasn't for counseling or therapy...that makes alot of sense seeing as what I was TRYING to sign up for was group THERAPY! I've never had the oppurtunity to see Ele's Place, and no longer have a desire to after being treated so rudely. I wouldn't reccomend turing to support from the jerks who man the phones there.

Monique M.

The staff here are wonderful, helping families cope with the loss of their loved ones.