Our Programs

Soaring Spirits has one goal; to connect widowed people with each other.

  • Newly WidowedInformation, resources and understanding for those who are recently widowed.
  • Camp WidowAn uplifting, life-affirming event planned for widowed people by widowed people.
  • Regional Social GroupsRegular social gatherings of widowed people all over North America and selected locations globally.
  • Widow’s Voice BlogWe house the largest library in the world of blogs written by widowed people about love, grief, and life after the death of a partner.
  • Widowed VillageOur 24/7 online community is a place to write, read and share thoughts with other widowed people.
  • Public Health InitiativeChanging the way the public supports widowed people through customized training and resource development.
  • Widowed Pen PalsAn opportunity to connect with another widowed person by email.
  • You Are Not Alone OutreachOffers quick and easy ways to connect a widowed person in your life with our community.

Camp Widow

Camp Widow

Camp Widow® is a unique and incredible experience. This innovative program provides practical tools and research-informed resources for widowed persons rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the death of a spouse or partner. We offer both weekend-long and one-day events across the United States and in a variety of International locations. Blending three event styles - a conference format, an inspiring retreat, and a reunion with great friends - Camp Widow is open to anyone who has experienced the death of the person with whom they planned to spend the rest of their lives (legally married or not), and provides an in-person widowed community of peers who are making their way through widowhood one day at a time. Learn more here.

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Widow’s Voice

Imagine finding a blog that gives voice to the pain you are living in, words you've thought, but never shared. We've amassed a library that includes thousands of posts written by widowed people that normalize the sometimes crazy process of grief and loss. Our blogs are searchable and will lead you to specific topics, questions or to your favorite author.

Introverts: Stay in the Work

Introverts: Stay in the Work

I get overwhelmed easily with “too many” of anything. Too many choices, too many words at first glance, too many ways to find my way to peace and healing. I have to back away. Take a beat...

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Living with Triggers

Living with Triggers

After going through such a traumatic loss having anxiety and being scared or jumpy all seemed to be part of the package. A year and a half in those feelings are still there. They might not be as intense...

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Death and Taxes

Death and Taxes

Nothing is certain in life except death and taxes, at least that is what they say. As a widow, I can also tell you that nothing complicates taxes like the death of your spouse. In April of 2021, our...

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Sleeping and Not Sleeping and Weird Dreams in Between

Sleeping and Not Sleeping and Weird Dreams in Between

Ever since Don Shepherd died, twelve years ago, sleep has been a problem. Like, a major problem. As in, I don’t sleep well at all. In the beginning, I barely slept at all. I would be lucky to...

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Pleasant Beginnings

Pleasant Beginnings

To comprehend how far we’ve moved forward after a life-changing event, it’s helpful to take a look back. I often ask myself to recall what I was doing a year, or even more, earlier at any given...

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Signs

Signs

Talking with others who have lost someone, a common topic that often comes up are signs from your departed loved one. I’ve been documenting signs since the day Mario died. When I speak of signs, I...

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Other Pathways

Other Pathways

Lately, I have taken to reading random Widow’s Blog posts, which are maintained in the Soaring Spirits archives, by authors who have come and gone from this site. Initially, I mainly was interested...

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A Widowed Introvert: Part Four

A Widowed Introvert: Part Four

How does resilience help widowed people heal? The Soaring Spirits Resilience Center research team asked widowed people to help us define resilience as it applies to the widowed experience and the results...

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The Potty Milestone

The Potty Milestone

It’s one in a few when I get those proud parenting moments as a solo parent. I always feel as if I’m not doing enough or I’m not giving enough or I’m just not enough for them. How does one person...

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My Memorial Tattoo

My Memorial Tattoo

When I wrote my first blog post for this site in March of 2022, I shared what I refer to as my widow mantra. That mantra is to Be Brave. Stay Strong. Love Hard. You can read that post here: My Widow...

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Soaring Spirits International: Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Soaring Spirits International (SSI), we believe that widowhood is a shared human experience, transcending boundaries of marital status, gender, sexual identity, and religious traditions. Our programs welcome and honor the diversity that grief brings, offering support to anyone who has experienced the death of their person.

We are committed to ensuring equitable access to our programs, recognizing that underserved populations face barriers in accessing grief support. Through active outreach and data collection, we work to remove these barriers systematically and consistently.

Inclusion is at the heart of our mission. We understand that mourning takes different forms across cultures and identities. With curiosity and cultural humility, we continually adapt and expand our resources to serve an ever broader and more diverse community of widowed individuals. We actively seek feedback from underrepresented communities to ensure our programs are relevant and inclusive.

Our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is an ongoing journey. We regularly review and improve our efforts, staying connected with the evolving needs of our global community.

Our full statement and DEI action plan can be found by clicking this link.

4 Million

People Reached

70

Regional Groups

69%

Parenting Minor Children

10K

Newly Widowed Packets Delivered Annually Free of Charge

20K

Outreach Cards Delivered Annually Free of Charge

Newly Widowed Packets

Newly Widowed Packets

Feeling lost in the immediate aftermath of becoming widowed is common and daunting. We can help! These packets provide a practical checklist for the newly widowed, relevant program information, and a collection of supportive messages from one widowed person to another. Packets are mailed and are designed for those widowed less than six months.

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You Are Not Alone Cards

You Are Not Alone Cards

Do you know someone who is widowed? Soaring Spirits’ You Are Not Alone cards are small folded business cards that contain all the information a widowed person would need to get connected with our widowed community. You Are Not Alone cards are free, easy to order, and small enough to carry in your purse or wallet. These little cards make a big difference.

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Widowed Village

Widowed Village

Day or night, no matter where you are on the globe, we offer an online community featuring blog posts, group discussions, focused forums for deeper connection, and ways to find widowed women and men close to your age, date of loss, and geographic location. Our carefully screened virtual community provides hope and healing from the comfort of your home.

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Soaring Spirits Resilience Center

Soaring Spirits Resilience Center

When we discovered the lack of research being conducted about the widowed experience, we developed the first center in the U.S. focused on grief and resilience in widowhood. Housed at Schreiner University in Texas, the Soaring Spirits Resilience Center researches widowed experiences and develops tools to support healing in grieving populations.

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Sponsors

Soaring Spirits is grateful for the incredible support of our corporate and community sponsors. Our work is fueled by their generosity.

All Pro Bicycles
AT&T
Bellis Reinforcing Steel
Bohnett Foundation
Coastal Business Supplies
Corporate Graphics Communications
Dignity Memorial
H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation
Hutton Parker Foundation
Living Out
Qualcomm Foundation
Rhino’s Sports and Spirits
Rotary Club of Simi Valley
Rotary International
Swinks Towing
The James and Deborah Klein Family Foundation
The Junkyard Cafe
United Way
Wells Fargo
World Financial Group