Showing Up for Our Community: Raise for Rowyn at Return to Rhythm

At Raise for Rowyn, being present in our community means more than attending events. It means building relationships, sharing resources, and making sure families know they are not alone when they experience the unimaginable loss of a child.

On September 19, Raise for Rowyn was grateful to take part in Return to Rhythm: Back to School Market + Family Resource Fair, hosted by Messy Mama Co. at the Thurston County Fairgrounds in Lacey.

The event brought together families, local organizations, vendors, resources, and activities all in one place, with approximately 475 people coming through the Expo Center throughout the day.

At the Raise for Rowyn table, we had the opportunity to connect with community members, share information about our mission and services, and give families a few special items to take home. We handed out fall-themed books, notebooks, T-shirts, bracelets, and other goodies to children and families who stopped by.

But for us, events like Return to Rhythm are about much more than what we give away.

Continuing to Show Up

Every community event gives us another opportunity to spread awareness about the support Raise for Rowyn provides to families following the loss of a child.

Grief can be incredibly isolating, and families often do not know what resources are available until they suddenly need them. By continuing to have a presence at events throughout our community, we can help more people become familiar with Raise for Rowyn, our mission, and the services available to grieving families.

Sometimes that means connecting directly with a family who has experienced loss. Other times, it means meeting someone who remembers our name and shares our information with a friend, relative, coworker, or neighbor who needs support in the future.

Every connection matters.

Community Supporting Community

We are especially thankful for partnerships with organizations like Messy Mama Co., whose commitment to bringing families, businesses, organizations, and resources together made Return to Rhythm such a wonderful community event.

Messy Mama Co. created Return to Rhythm with a focus on helping local families feel connected, supported, and prepared for the new school year. Their efforts to collect school supplies and bring community resources together are a wonderful example of what can happen when local organizations work alongside one another.

Partnerships like these allow all of us to reach more families and strengthen the network of support available within our community.

We are grateful to Messy Mama Co. for welcoming Raise for Rowyn to Return to Rhythm, to everyone who stopped by our table to learn more about what we do, and to all of the organizations and community members who helped make the event possible.

Together, We Can Reach More Families

Raise for Rowyn will continue showing up, sharing our mission, creating connections, and working alongside organizations that care deeply about the families in our community.

Because the more people who know about Raise for Rowyn, the greater the chance that when a family experiences the unimaginable, someone will know where to point them for support.

Thank you to Messy Mama Co. and everyone who joined us at Return to Rhythm. We are grateful to be part of a community that continues to show up for one another.

No family should have to walk through loss alone.