Hope for Widows Foundation

10/23/2026

“When I was planning my celebrations of life for my husband, I wanted to send Chinese lanterns into the sky to mark the occasion. Unfortunately, in each place I had the celebration they were prohibited. A few years ago, I came across an ad for a water lantern festival. When I checked it out, I got so excited. This would be a way I could finally fulfill my dream to honor the life of my husband. Circumstances prevented me from being able to engage in this celebration for several years. Finally, this year God opened the door for me to get to go. Some of my dear widow friends joined with me to make it possible.

I waited excitedly for the day to get here. It was the first thing I’ve done for me in many years. My focus is nearly always on others and it is hard for me to think about what I want. Perhaps some of you can relate.

We traveled about four hours away to get to the festival. We got a hotel room because we knew we wouldn’t get out until late and we would be tired. It was my first time away from the schedule in a long time…”

HforW Community Blogger and Hope Sister,Teri Miner(Instagram@widow10619 and Personal Blog:https://widowwhispers.blogspot.com/), writes her latest blog here: https://hopeforwidows.org/2026/10/the-light/
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10/23/2026

“When I was planning my celebrations of life for my husband, I wanted to send Chinese lanterns into the sky to mark the occasion. Unfortunately, in each place I had the celebration they were prohibited. A few years ago, I came across an ad for a water lantern festival. When I checked it out, I got so excited. This would be a way I could finally fulfill my dream to honor the life of my husband. Circumstances prevented me from being able to engage in this celebration for several years. Finally, this year God opened the door for me to get to go. Some of my dear widow friends joined with me to make it possible.

I waited excitedly for the day to get here. It was the first thing I’ve done for me in many years. My focus is nearly always on others and it is hard for me to think about what I want. Perhaps some of you can relate.

We traveled about four hours away to get to the festival. We got a hotel room because we knew we wouldn’t get out until late and we would be tired. It was my first time away from the schedule in a long time…”

HforW Community Blogger and Hope Sister,Teri Miner(Instagram@widow10619 and Personal Blog:https://widowwhispers.blogspot.com/), writes her latest blog here: https://hopeforwidows.org/2026/10/the-light/

A water lantern tribute for widows: honor his memory, release what hurts, and remember God’s light still leads into a hope-filled future.

10/22/2026

The time is here!
Become a Sponsor: Share the Gift of Hope This Holiday Season

As the holidays approach, there’s no better time to show compassion and generosity. Join us in making a lasting impact through the Hope for Widows Foundation's Bring Hope Holiday Assistance Program, now in its sixth year. This virtual initiative supports widows facing financial hardship by helping them provide gifts and essential items for their children.

Our dedicated board members lead by example year after year because they believe in the transformative power of this program. Their commitment ensures the true spirit of giving reaches as many families as possible, and they invite you to join them.

For many widows, the holiday season brings emotional and financial strain. Solo parenting, grief, and the pressure of meeting basic needs often leave little room for holiday celebrations. Your sponsorship can lift that burden and bring joy, relief, and hope.

Sponsor applications are now open through Friday, December 11. This is your chance to make a meaningful difference for families who need it most.

Together, we can brighten the holidays. Become a sponsor today and help make this season one of hope and generosity.

More details + sponsor application: https://linktr.ee/hopeforwidows

Widows/Hope Sisters—your application to apply will be released soon. We’re here to support you. Be on the lookout!

10/21/2026

Truth!

10/19/2026

💜

10/17/2026

“I may have grown up an only child, but for most of my life, I have spent very little time completely alone – even as a widow.

A few weeks ago, after taking my eldest, now-grown child to Portland for a big surgery, I spent a few nights by myself in a hotel, and let me tell you, I recommend everyone do something like this at least once.

I love being with my family. I even love being at my job, which gets insane sometimes.

But I have rarely dined out alone. I had never stayed alone in a hotel – well, I had one other time, but that was a “tragic”, 🙄 romantic (now laughable) failure of an evening and not a planned event like this.

This turned into a full-on reset for my soul…”

HforW Community Blogger and Hope Sister, Layla Beth Munk(The_Snarky_Widow, Instagram ,Twitter@laylabeth, laylabethmunk.medium.com and her debut novella, 24 Hours in Vegas, is available on Amazon), writes her latest blog here: https://hopeforwidows.org/2026/10/a-little-time-alone/

I may have grown up an only child, but for most of my life, I have spent very little time completely alone – even as a widow. A few weeks ago, after taking my eldest, now-grown child to Portland for …

10/16/2026

The time is here!
Become a Sponsor: Share the Gift of Hope This Holiday Season

As the holidays approach, there’s no better time to show compassion and generosity. Join us in making a lasting impact through the Hope for Widows Foundation’s Bring Hope Holiday Assistance Program, now in its sixth year. This virtual initiative supports widows facing financial hardship by helping them provide gifts and essential items for their children.

Our dedicated board members lead by example year after year because they believe in the transformative power of this program. Their commitment ensures the true spirit of giving reaches as many families as possible, and they invite you to join them.

For many widows, the holiday season brings emotional and financial strain. Solo parenting, grief, and the pressure of meeting basic needs often leave little room for holiday celebrations. Your sponsorship can lift that burden and bring joy, relief, and hope.

Sponsor applications are now open through Friday, December 11. This is your chance to make a meaningful difference for families who need it most.

Together, we can brighten the holidays. Become a sponsor today and help make this season one of hope and generosity.

More details + sponsor application: https://linktr.ee/hopeforwidows

Widows/Hope Sisters—your application to apply will be released soon. We’re here to support you. Be on the lookout!

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10/15/2026

“It’s one of those nights when grief twists inside my body, unravels my emotions, and pokes my mind with the thoughts that “I just can’t do this anymore. It’s too hard.”

Eleven years of missing him, missing his arms around me, missing talking about all those things we shared only with each other, enjoying married life together. I miss being his number one person. I miss hearing, “I love you honey,” I miss being called beautiful, I miss that feeling of being cared for and safe with him and being his “love of my life.” I haven’t been someone’s person, honey, soulmate, private confidant, intimate heart-and-soul lover for over a decade. God said, “it’s not good for a human to be alone.” Yet here I am. Without my life companion.

Aloneness (which is different from solitude or living alone, which I have come to like) is not a healthy existence, physically or mentally. It’s like emotional isolation. It can eventually become debilitating loneliness. I am fine most of the time, or at least I deal with it because what choice is there? Other times, like tonight, reality hits again…”

HforW Community Blogger and Hope Sister,Carmen Myrtis-Garcia(Facebook -Filled Widows and Personal Blog:www.thoughts-in-grief.weebly.com), writes her latest blog here: https://hopeforwidows.org/2026/10/when-i-feel-i-cant/

It's one of those nights when grief twists inside my body, unravels my emotions,