"The tragic events surrounding the crash of Comair 5191 on the morning of August 27, 2006, touched our community in many ways. First responders and volunteers from organizations like the police and fire departments, American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Hospice of the Bluegrass immediately went into action. Yet, most of us were left wondering who we knew and what we could do to help.
Community members responded with an outpouring of compassion as well as financial support to create a special fund for families. In our role as conduit for caring, United Way of the Bluegrass established the 5191 Care Fund. An oversight committee was immediately put into place. After several months of careful review as to how to best serve the long-term needs of the families and in accordance with IRS guidelines and other governance parameters, this oversight committee determined the best use of the funds was through a partnership with Hospice of the Bluegrass.
Since November of 2006, Hospice of the Bluegrass has provided support and assistance to grieving family members here in the Bluegrass and through an extensive national network. Hospice understands that grief is very unique and what one individual finds comforting and helpful another may not.
"Since grief is so personal and individual, our goal is to provide choices to families. The support from the community through the 5191 Care Fund allowed for many choices," stated Sherri Weisenfluh, Hospice of the Bluegrass associate vice president of counseling services.
Over the past 11 months, Hospice of the Bluegrass has made over 190 contacts with the families. Local programs have included individual grief counseling, family support groups, child support groups, educational materials and a four-part holiday series on how to cope through the holidays. Hospice also facilitated support for several families living outside the Bluegrass area with their local hospice. In addition, Hospice of the Bluegrass has provided community support and education through presentations, materials and a special seminar planned for August 27, 2007, with Dr. Kenneth Doka, an internationally recognized grief and loss expert.
"It has been such a privilege to work with the families," said Mary Kay Fedorchuk, Hospice of the Bluegrass social worker. Family members needing additional information on grief support services or private events surrounding the anniversary may contact Fedorchuk at (859) 277-2700, or at mkfedorchuk@hospicebg.org.
As we approach the one-year anniversary, this community will continue to take care of those who lost a loved one early on that August morning in 2006. Last year, our response as a community was quick, heart-felt and emotional. Over the past 11 months, the response has been supportive and healing. The best gift we can give the family members, and each other, is to recognize that life is such a gift and can be taken at any given time. The loss that family members are feeling will never go away, but hopefully, the grief counseling and support through Hospice will continue to help.
As we witness on a daily basis, our community's caring power is tremendous, as was evident through the 5191 tragedy. I am sure that as the one-year anniversary approaches, we will all remember the loss of lives and family members left behind.
We invite you to come together as a caring community for a memorial service honoring those who died on Flight 5191 on Sunday, August 26, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. at Southland Christian Church. For more information, call Marianne Blodgett at the Office of the Mayor at (859) 258-3117.
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