Behind the Booth: My Experience as an Exhibitor

I have been attending special events for the last 2 or 3 years, and in that time I’ve learned so much about people, their grief, and where grief fits in my own life. Each year I choose two special events to attend... the Brighter Days Walk to Remember 5k and the Halos Walk to Remember.

The Brighter Days event has brought me closer not only to grievers, but also to like-minded businesses. I’ve made meaningful connections with colleagues and look forward to seeing them again each year. The 5k event is designed to bring families together in their grief... a time to connect, share, and remember, while also obtaining donations to keep their services free of charge.

Brighter Days Grief Center also offers a wide range of classes, meet-ups, support groups, and events throughout the year, giving families and friends a place to support each other as they navigate the hard road of ”life after” a loved one is gone.

I am honored every year to attend this event and always walk away with personal growth and a deeper sense of connection. Brighter Days is a compassionate, comprehensive, and community-oriented nonprofit dedicated to helping Minnesota families heal together after the death or terminal illness of a loved one... offering emotional, practical, and financial support, all free of charge.

For more information on their services, visit halosofthestcroixvalley.org.

The Halos Memorial Walk is similar in what it offers families... but with one tender difference. It supports parents and families who have faced the unspeakable loss of a child from pregnancy through age 21.

Halos provides immediate care for families struck by early loss, as well as ongoing aftercare. Long after the rawness begins to fade, there is continued support for families who wish to honor and cherish the memory of their child.

Every August, the team at Halos which comprises of two incredibly supportive and dedicated women and oodles of volunteers, host a large memorial walk for the families and supporters they serve. For the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of being an exhibitor at this event. It’s one of the most powerful experiences... standing among so many people who carry a similar ache in their hearts.

Halos of the St. Croix Valley is a deeply empathetic, family-run nonprofit offering compassionate and comprehensive support... practical, emotional, and beyond... for parents grieving the loss of a child. Through personalized bereavement services, financial aid, remembrance resources, and long-term emotional care, they help ease both the emotional and logistical burdens that follow such a loss.

Photo Cred Ariel Volunteer at Halos of St. Croix Valley

Attending these memorial events each year has become more than just a professional commitment for me... it’s a personal reminder of the strength found in community and the healing that happens when stories and memories are shared. Both Brighter Days and Halos create sacred spaces for families to grieve, honor, and connect, and I feel truly grateful to be part of them. Walking away each year, I carry not only new connections, but also a deeper sense of compassion and growth in my own journey.

With sincerity,
Amy