Active duty military or recent military veterans can volunteer as mentors for the TAPS Good Grief Camp May 25-28, where they can companion a child or teen who is grieving the death of a loved one who served in the military. The children are 4-19 years old and TAPS expects 475 to attend this year who are grieving the death of a parent or sibling while serving in the military.

Mentors are background checked and attend training (May 23, 6:00pm-9:00pm or May 24, 10:00am-1:00pm) in how to companion a child who is grieving. At the camp, mentors are placed in a group of about 25 other mentors and mentees. This group will be led by an experienced and trained grief facilitator. The mentor’s responsibilities for the weekend are to connect with the child with whom he or she is assigned and follow the lead of the group facilitator.

Having a mentor who served re-connects a child back to the military community and enables them to ask questions, if they like, that only a service member can answer. You cannot be a mentor if you have not personally served in the military recently or are not currently serving in the military.

Call 1.800.959.TAPS (8277) or email mentors@taps.org if you have questions about being a mentor. Learn more and volunteer as a TAPS Good Grief Camp mentor.

WANTED: VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT SURVIVING FAMILIES OF OUR FALLEN MILITARY
Even if you have not served in the military or can’t be a Good Grief Camp mentor due to other commitments over Memorial Day weekend, you can volunteer to help the families of our fallen military. TAPS is seeking individual volunteers, groups, or organizations, who can fill the following roles during the 18th Annual National Military Survivor Seminar & Good Grief Camp:

• Thursday, May 24, 11:00am-3:00pm – help set up for TAPS Good Grief Camp – 8-10 people needed 
• Thursday, May 24, 10:00am-2:00pm, 1:00pm-3:00pm – help set up for the TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar – 6-8 people
• Thursday, May 24, 6:00pm-9:00pm – greet families, assist registration desk – 10 people
• Friday, May 25, 8:00am-1:00pm – greet families, assist registration desk – 10 people
• Friday, May 25, 8:00am-1:00pm – greet families at the hotel, answer questions about the area, direct to registration
• Friday, May 25, 6:00pm-11:00pm – excursion escorts on buses taking families to view the Marine Corps Parade, help families on and off the bus, ensure everyone gets on bus before departing – 10 people
• Saturday, May 26, 12:00pm-5:00pm – escort families on the shuttle running between the hotel and Arlington National Cemetery’s section 60 so they can visit gravesites – 2 people
• Sunday, May 27, 9:00am-2:00pm – Good Grief Camp Closing crew – help with packing up camp
• Sunday, May 27, 5:00pm-11:00pm – escort families on buses to the National Memorial Day Concert at the Capitol, help them find seating, remind them of pickup locations after the event concludes, essential to be independent, find and direct survivors to the TAPS buses when the event ends – 30+ people 
• Sunday, May 27, 12:00pm-5:00pm – escort families on the shuttle running between the hotel and Arlington National Cemetery’s section 60 so they can visit gravesites – 2 people
• Sunday, May 27, 6:00pm-10:00pm – help pack the TAPS registration desk, store and supplies – 8-10 people
• Monday, May 28, 7:00am-2:00pm - Escort survivors on buses going to Arlington National Cemetery and the national Memorial Day observances. Help direct them once at the cemetery onto second set of buses to amphitheater. Stay for the event and at the end, escort survivors back onto buses.

To volunteer for one of these essential projects contact Jerome Tennille, 202.588.8277, jerome.tennille@taps.org