Avow Kids expands free grief support for children and teens into Lee, Hendry and Glades counties

Avow Kids, the free grief and emotional wellness program for children offered by Southwest Florida nonprofit Avow, is expanding into Lee, Hendry and Glades counties. The program will host fall open houses in LaBelle and Fort Myers, followed by a free overnight camp for teens in November.

Children from the three counties have long been welcome at Avow Kids programming in Naples, and many families have made the drive. Now the program is meeting them closer to home, offering sessions in their own communities and building partnerships with schools, agencies and other local organizations.

Designed for children ages 5 to 17, Avow Kids supports young people coping with the death of a parent, sibling, friend or other loved one, as well as other types of loss, such as divorce, instability in the foster care system or a family member’s military deployment. Led by Avow’s professional children’s bereavement team, the program offers counseling, peer support groups, music therapy, workshops and therapeutic camps. Avow Kids is open to all children in the community, and there is never a cost for care.

The expansion builds on significant growth for the program. In 2025, Avow Kids served 542 children in Collier County, a 95% increase over 2024, and provided 2,741 therapeutic services. All Avow Kids services are offered at no cost, made possible by the philanthropic support of donors, businesses and foundations across the community.

Avow began offering hospice, palliative care and bereavement services in Lee, Hendry and Glades counties earlier this year. In August, the nonprofit acquired property at Hope Preserve in Fort Myers, where current plans for an approximately 40,000-square-foot facility include grief and loss support for children and adults.

Fall Open Houses

Avow Kids will host two free open houses where families can meet the Avow Kids staff, explore the program and learn how the team supports children and their loved ones. No RSVP is needed.

Friday, Oct. 9 – 3 to 5 p.m., 165 S. Lee St., LaBelle (serving Hendry and Glades counties)

Thursday, Oct. 29 – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Riverside Community Center, 3061 Riverside Drive, Fort Myers (serving Lee County)

Camp MendingHeart Teen Overnight Camp

Avow Kids will also host Camp MendingHeart Teen Overnight Camp from Friday, Nov. 13, through Sunday, Nov. 15. The healing weekend is designed for youth ages 11 and older who have experienced any type of loss, whether the death of a loved one, a significant life change or another form of grief.

Held at Riverside Retreat Center, the camp offers a peaceful, natural setting where participants take part in guided play, art and music therapy activities. Throughout the weekend, teens will have a safe, supportive space to express their emotions, build resilience and connect with peers who share similar experiences.

Campers will meet at Aunt Janet’s House on the Avow campus, 1301 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples. The camp is free, and transportation, meals and two nights of lodging are provided. Funding for the camp is provided in part by Naples Children Foundation.

Advance registration is required. To register, email avowkids@avowcares.org or call 239-430-3521. For more information about Avow Kids or to submit a referral, visit AvowKids.org or call 239-430-3521.

About Avow
Avow was founded in 1983 as Southwest Florida’s original, nonprofit hospice. Today, Avow’s nonprofit companies provide palliative care for individuals facing chronic or serious illness, hospice care, bereavement support services for children and adults, and Medicare-certified home health care. To learn more about the scope of services provided by Avow, call 239-261-4404 or visit www.avowcares.org.