PHOENIX — Stepping Stones of Hope a non-profit in Phoenix, is making sure kids, teens and adults don't have to grieve alone.
The group hopes various camps and programs throughout the year. Led by volunteers like Payton Knipp who knows first-hand how it feels to lose a loved one.
"I blamed my mom, myself because when people commit suicide there's a lot of blame that happens," Knipp says about her father passing when she was nine.
Payton started participating in Stepping Stones of Hopes camps when she was 11. She says it, "was a good way to start talking about my feelings without the pressure of a therapist or one-on-one sessions."
Now she uses her experience to volunteer and help others.
The majority of the non-profit's volunteers participated in the camp including Program Director Ana Wilks. "It gave us coping skills to use at home and really gave us hope for the future," she says.
Whether the loss was recent or years ago, Stepping Stones of Hope welcome grievers at any stage. A full list of camps and other programs is available online at steppingstonesofhope.org.
