A Letter from SOSL
Dear Supporter of SOSL,
This has been a year of great expansion for SOSL. As we grow, we are grateful to be here to support you, but we are pained as more survivors join our community.
The holiday season can be very difficult for many survivors. If you are struggling, we welcome you to reach out to us by calling (619) 482-0297 or call any of our “Talk to Someone” volunteers listed here. To read some ideas on how to handle the holiday season, please read our article Holidays and Other Special Days.
Our 2013 Highlights include:
- Publishing a book entitled Beyond Surviving: A Compilation of Stories from Survivors of Suicide Loss.
- Launched a brand new website, paid for by a grant from Datron World Communications, that is far more user friendly and offers better access to resources for survivors.
- Voted in two new people to serve on our SOSL Board of Directors. Bryan Bear, CPA to serve as treasurer and Jana Weber, Vice President at Union Bank and Santee Branch Manager.
- Participated in 29 speaking engagements, including providing 13 suicide prevention trainings (QPR – Question, Persuade, Refer trainings).
- Designed and continue to host a Virtual Quilt where survivors can participate in an online memorial.
- Mailed over 160 SOSL Support Packets of information to newly bereaved survivors.
- More than doubled the reach of our Facebook Page from less than 200 to over 409 “Likes”!
- Held 168 support group meetings.
- Expanded our Support Group Program to include a group specifically for Teens.
- Distributed our quarterly newsletter to over 2000 people each quarter.
- Continued to be a partner organization of the San Diego Suicide Prevention Council, and serving as members of both the Faith Outreach Subcommittee and the Media Outreach Subcommittee.
- For the first time in our 32-year history, we are able to have a full-time employee! We hired Jenni Morel, Esq. as Director of Development to help us create more services for survivors and be more attuned to the needs of individuals.
- We are proud to announce that as of December, 2013, our Webmaster, serving as a volunteer for the last 5-years, now receives a monthly stipend for the work he does keeping our new website secure, updated, and fresh.
We hope you will consider putting SOSL on your holiday list and make a tax-deductible donation to us so we are able to continue to support others on their healing journey.
Make a Secure Online Donation by clicking Here
Or we welcome checks sent to SOSL, P.O. Box 3297, La Mesa, CA 91944
We thank you for your support.
Warm wishes for a wonderful holiday season,
Bonnie, Jenni & the SOSL Board of Directors
News
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Allison Kristen Sampite
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