April Showers Bring ...
... new opportunities to engage with your families! And, with Earth Day right around the corner (and gathering restrictions still in place in many areas), there's never been a better time to engage with your families - outside!
In the spirit of Earth Day (April 22!), the Remembering A Life community outreach resources are going green this month, with ideas and inspiration for everything from hosting an outdoor remembrance gathering to educating families about green funeral options.
Plus...we have the information your families need now about FEMA Funeral Assistance. Members: download your full toolkit!
The Podcast Goes Green!
Not long ago, green funerals were a relatively foreign concept, but, increasingly, families are choosing this eco-friendly approach when laying a loved one to rest. Guests and NFDA members Bob Prout and Julia Prout from Prout Funeral Home in Verona, New Jersey, share how green funerals can be a meaningful option for anyone wanting to say goodbye in a beautiful, natural setting while also reducing their environmental footprint.
Visit RememberingALife.com/podcast to listen!
Make it Work for You
1. Listen to the April episode.
2. Link to the Remembering A Life podcast on your website as an ongoing resource for families.
3. Share the episode on your Facebook or Twitter platform - either by sharing Remembering A Life posts or linking directly to the podcast.
Community Event Inspiration
If, in the past, you've held an annual remembrance gathering for family and friends who have lost a loved one, it's likely you haven't been able to do so during the past year. Now, with the weather warming up, it's a great time to plan an outdoor gathering.
Use these handy planning ideas for an outdoor gathering that is both safe and meaningful:
• Plan a program featuring a brief inspirational address (given by you, a celebrant, a member of the clergy or a community member), a reading of the names of people who have died, and a prayer, poem or song
• Offer individually packaged refreshments or boxed meals (and hand sanitizer!)
• Invite attendees to tie ribbons on a tree in memory of their loved ones
• Invite attendees to share stories and memories about their loved ones
• Give each attendee a small gift for attending. If you need inspiration, Remembering A Life has a wonderful line of items that are a perfect way to say "I care."
Make it Work for You
1. Choose a date (and a rain date just in case!).
2. Select a location - either your funeral home grounds or a local park. The ideal location will have seating and facilities for guests.
3. Invite families who have experienced a death to attend.
Download our Idea Guide for more inspiration!
Free Social Media (and more!) Toolkit
Looking for a way to provide added value to families that have experienced the death of a loved one due to COVID-19? Make sure they are aware of FEMA Funeral Assistance by using the tools in NFDA's FEMA Funeral Assistance toolkit: social media posts, posters, flyers, print ads and more! All of these resources are free for NFDA members!
Make it Work for You
1. Download the full toolkit.
2. Read the overview for how to use the tools.
3. Establish your firm as the leader in your community when you start using these informative resources today!
Book of the Month by Dr. Alan Wolfelt
Dr. Alan Wolfelt is inviting us to step outside, feel the grass under our feet, listen to the birds, breathe in some fresh air … and grieve. It’s the premise of one of his most recent books, Nature Heals – Reconciling Your Grief Through Engaging with the Natural World, which encourages us to embrace the healing power of nature to guide us on our grief journeys.
This is the perfect book for families and individuals who would be inclined to explore how nature can help them heal - and it's the Remembering A Life April Book of the Month!
Make it Work for You
1. Read the review and share the link on your social media. Earth Day (April 22) would be a great day to do this!
2. Share a link to purchase a copy of the book on your social media.
3. Hold a virtual or in-person book club in your community featuring the book. (An outdoor book club event would be a perfect fit!)
Sign Up Now and Get Free Resources in Your Inbox!
Looking for free resources you can easily download and share with your families? Interested in connecting with your families and community in new, innovative ways? Want to learn more about NFDA’s Remembering A Life consumer outreach initiative and discover creative ways to use it? Interested in winning Remembering A Life resources?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, sign up to receive NFDA’s new free Community Digest. Each month, you'll receive a digest of the tools and resources that will help you engage with the families you serve and within your community at large.