1 What is Compassionate Friends? It is an organization with 600 plus chapters in the United States. The purpose is to provide understanding, friendship and hope to families following the death of a child of any age from any cause, and to provide information to others so they may be of help to them.
2 How many members in the Independence Chapter? We have an average attendance of from 12 to 24, but a newsletter mailing list of 330. After a period of time, people may no longer feel the need for the chapter meetings, but are helped by receiving the bi-monthly newsletter.
3 How long have you been chapter leader and how did you become part of the organization? My son, David, died in a car accident in January 1991 and our family was devastated. I began attending meetings about three months later and found that the people there truly understood my grief and had survived. About two years after David’s death I became the leader. I’ve also served as the regional coordinator for the state and four counties in Kansas since 2000.
4 What is the Worldwide Candle Lighting and its purpose? It is an event held annually on the second Sunday in December. People light candles at 7 p.m. in honor and memory of their children so that they may never be forgotten. As the candles burn down in one time zone, they are lit at 7 p.m. in the next one, creating a virtual 24-hour wave of light around the world.
5 How did you come in contact with and book Bill Hancock, this year’s guest speaker for the candle lighting (7 p.m. Sunday, Walnut Garden Community of Christ, 19201 R.D. Mize Road)? He was a keynote speaker at the Compassionate Friends National Conference in 2007. He shared his story and his books were made available at the conference book store.
–Toriano L. Porter
