Amy Zell
Grief and Loss In Motion, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide postvention, grief support, and prevention education, has announced the expansion of Zell Yeah Designs, a program created to respond directly to the needs of the motorcycle community and those grieving traumatic loss.
An unusual number of suicides by people connected to the motorcycle enthusiast community indicated a need for outreach beyond traditional setting, the organization said.
“We knew we could not wait for people to walk into an office,” said Amy Zell, founder of Grief and Loss In Motion. “We had to go where people already were – bike runs, benefits, club events, and community spaces. Boots-on-the-ground work is how we build trust, start conversations, and help save lives.”
Grief and Loss In Motion created a mobile sewing station to take to motorcycle charity runs and community events. Volunteers sew patches on vests, which opens the door for conversations about suicide prevention, grief support, safe firearm storage and available resources. The organization also distributes gun locks, suicide prevention materials, and local resource information.
Grief and Loss offers custom patch creation and sewing appointments at the Sanctuary Artisans Market, a division of Freedom Thirteen Cycle, 759 E. Liberty St., Hubbard. Sewing hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Grief and Loss will hold its annual Survivor Day Butterfly Release Aug. 29 on the green in Brookfield Center. Registration begins at 11 a.m. with a ceremony at 11:30. Reserve a butterfly, order a T-shirt, schedule sewing or patch services or learn about suicide prevention and grief support resources by calling Zell at 330-506-1232, visiting Grief and Loss In Motion on Facebook or at suicidepostvention.org or stopping in during open hours at the Sanctuary Artisans Market.
