Lost & Found Grief Center

02/24/2026

Sometimes our community goes through moments that are hard to put into words.If you or someone you love is carrying grief, please know you don’t have to navigate it alone. 🧡💙

At Lost & Found Grief Center, we believe:
• Grief is a natural response to loss for adults and children.
• Each person has their own capacity to heal.
• The duration and intensity of grief are unique for everyone.
• Compassion, care, and acceptance help the healing process.

📞 If you need support or have questions about our services, call us at 417-865-9998 or contact us online: https://lostandfoundozarks.com/contact-us/

When you’re ready, we’re here.

02/21/2026

In case you're curious...we asked Gemini, "What can you tell me about Run & Remember in Springfield, MO?" The answer was pretty spot on! 💙🧡 Registration will be opening soon. Take a look at our 2025 recap video for all the hopeful feels.🤗

We hope you'll join us for this special community event three months from today on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

🌟🧡💙🧡💙🌟
Run & Remember is a heartfelt annual event in Springfield, MO, hosted by the Lost & Found Grief Center. It’s designed as more than just a race; it’s a community gathering to honor and celebrate the memories of loved ones who have passed away.

The event typically features both a 5K Run/Walk and a 1-Mile Memory Walk, making it accessible for all ages and fitness levels.

If you're planning to attend this year, here are the key details:

Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Race usually starts at 5:30 PM)
Location: Jordan Valley Park, 635 E. Trafficway St., Springfield, MO

Registration: Opens in early March.

Key Features:
🌷Memorial Garden: A serene area where participants can place Memorial Signs featuring a photo and the name of their loved one. These signs can be purchased during registration and taken home after the event.

🧡Remembrance Program: Following the race (around 7:30 PM), a short, meaningful program is held to bring the community together for reflection.

😊All-Inclusive: The event welcomes runners, walkers, strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs.

💙The Cause: All proceeds support Lost & Found Grief Center, which provides no-cost grief support services to families in the Ozarks.

02/18/2026

We’ve been reflecting on Evening of Hope… and these photos just make us smile. 💙

The night may be over, but the impact continues. Because of everyone who attended, grieving kids and teens in our community will receive no-cost therapeutic support — and that ripple of hope keeps moving forward.🧡 💙

Thank you to Volt Credit Union and Snyder Construction Group for helping us capture these memories at the selfie station.

View the full gallery here: https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/Evening-of-Hope


Snyder Construction Group Volt Credit Union

02/16/2026

⏰ CFO Scholarship Deadline Reminder 💙🧡

As the deadline for the James Craig Carr Memorial Scholarship approaches (one month from today), we're highlighting a past recipient and the impact this scholarship can have. 💫

Hannah Hopkins attended a grief group at Lost & Found Grief Center in 2018-2019 following the death of her Dad in 2018.

💃 As a 2020 recipient, she used the scholarship to attend Lindenwood University, graduating in May 2024 with a BFA in contemporary dance. Today, Hannah dances professionally with Waterstreet Dance Milwaukee and has traveled across the U.S.—living her dream one performance at a time. 🧡

Hannah's journey is a powerful reminder of the importance of help, hope, healing, and support. 💙🧡 We're so proud of you Hannah! 💙🧡

🔗 Learn more & apply for this scholarship on the Community Foundation of the Ozarks website: https://www.cfozarks.org/resources/scholarship-criteria

📌 Scholarship Details:
🎓 One $3,000 scholarship
⏰ Deadline to Submit: March 16, 2026
🎒 Graduating high school senior or undergraduate student
💙 Must be a current or past participant in the Lost & Found Program
📚 Minimum 2.5 GPA (transcript required)
🏫 Applying to a two-year or four-year accredited college, university, or vocational school
💵 Demonstrate financial need (FAFSA-SAI required)
🤝 Describe participation in community service and/or work experience
✍️ Essay required



Community Foundation of the Ozarks

02/14/2026

Sending you extra love this Valentine’s Day. 🧡💙

These hearts were created by children in our no-cost grief support groups — reminders that love is still here, even in the midst of loss.

If you’re grieving today, we’re thinking of you. 💙🧡

02/11/2026

Lost & Found Grief Center congratulates Board Secretary Camber Jones and Junior Board Chair Anna Larriu for being named to Springfield Business Journal's 40-under-40. Jones, an attorney with Spencer Fane LLP, is in her first term on the Board of Directors. Larriu, a Regional Marketing Senior Associate at Forvis Mazars, is a former Lost & Found participant and a steadfast volunteer. We are proud of these accomplished women. 💙🧡

02/10/2026

Recently, Lost & Found's Assistant Executive Director, Melanie Blair, sat down with KSMU - Ozarks Public Radio to talk about grief and loneliness. We know these two often go hand-in-hand. We also know that Lost & Found Grief Center is a safe place where people can find community. 🧡💙

"When somebody is sharing (in a grief group), and you can look around the room and see other people just nodding their head ... like, yes, or sharing a similar story .... It really provides a safe atmosphere for somebody to feel heard, for someone to feel understood, and that's where the healing takes place."

Listen to the full interview on KSMU:
https://www.ksmu.org/show/making-a-difference/2026-01-29/loneliness-and-grief-often-go-hand-in-hand

02/09/2026

During our recent Evening of Hope, we shared the story of J.B. and Mr. Phillip—two people who became unexpected friends. 🧡💙

Mr. Phillip once shared that he used to dread walking through the doors of Lost & Found, because it meant facing his own grief after losing his son. Five years later, those same doors represent something different.

Now an active volunteer, Mr. Phillip is giving back. He is a ripple of hope for young children like J.B. as they navigate their own grief journeys. 💙🧡

Their story is a reminder that healing is ongoing, that connection matters, and that no one has to walk this path alone. We are so grateful to witness moments of help, hope, and healing like this.

💙🧡 Thank you to both Valerie and Phillip Shane for volunteering as facilitators.

02/05/2026

Ever wonder what happens in our therapeutic grief groups at Lost & Found? 🧡💙

Here’s a recent activity from our kids and teens groups: The Grief Maze.

Using LEGO boards and bricks, we talked about how grief isn’t a straight path. Each participant then built a maze to represent their grief journey—some with twists and turns, some with dead ends, and some with wide open spaces. Using a marble, they explored their maze and reflected on questions like:

• What was it like deciding which pieces to use?
• How has your grief changed over time?
• What parts have stayed the same?

These moments of creativity and connection are where healing happens. ✨

💙🧡

02/04/2026

Thank you, Brian Fogle and Springfield Daily Citizen, for taking the time to spotlight the important work that is happening at Lost & Found Grief Center. 🧡💙 As Brian shared...

”For most of us, losing a loved one is one of the hardest things we face in life. Adding to that is the fact that most of us never received the training or experience on how to face grief in an appropriate way. Talk of death is something we avoid . . . Fortunately, Lost & Found Grief Center has been there to help and estimated 25,000 neighbors in our region since its founding in 2000."

OPINION: Brian Fogle shines a spotlight on Lost & Found Grief Center, which supports grieving families. Thanks to community generosity, Lost & Found offers its services to individuals and families regardless of their financial situation.

Read it: https://sgfcitizen.org/voices-opinion/opinion/fogle-lost-found-grief-center-help/

02/03/2026

At our Evening of Hope gala this past Saturday, we shared the story of the Greenwade-Blair family. Their journey perfectly captures why we do what we do at Lost & Found Grief Center.🧡💙

As Allison Greenwade so beautifully shared, "You never lose it, you never get over it, but you can move forward. I didn't know that before, honestly, about grief. I just thought, you've gotta figure out how to get over this. It's not that—it's living with it, and living better with it every day, and knowing there are other people who feel that way too."

Watching this family navigate grief together and independently reminds us that while the weight of loss doesn't disappear, the burden becomes lighter when shared in community.

Please watch and share this video to help us spread awareness.
Your support ensures no family has to grieve alone.🧡💙

Thank you, Allison, Dylan, Lily, and J.B. for sharing your story.