Samaritans, Inc. Receives $30,000 from The Parmenter Foundation

This funding supports new programs for suicide loss survivors in MetroWest Massachusetts.

The Parmenter Foundation recently awarded $30,000 to Samaritans, Inc., a suicide prevention organization, to provide expanded grief support services to individuals in MetroWest communities who have lost a loved one to suicide. The funding supports a family cooking event, a one-day summit for long-term loss survivors, and the launch of a new support group for youth.

“Peer support is at the heart of our work at Samaritans, and expanding these programs allows us to reach more loss survivors, reduce isolation, and ensure no one has to navigate the aftermath of suicide alone,” said Sissi O’Shaughnessy, senior director of suicide grief support services at Samaritans. “With the help of The Parmenter Foundation, we can continue to provide families and individuals with more opportunities to connect in a meaningful way.”

“We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Samaritans and their commitment to walking alongside families after suicide loss,” said Angela Crocker, executive director for The Parmenter Foundation. “Their Long-Term Loss Survivor Summit, Cooking Through Grief, and Youth Loss Survivor Group reflect a deep understanding of grief and the power of community. We are so proud to support these innovative 2026 programs.”

The award from The Parmenter Foundation supports three 2026 initiatives, including Cooking Through Grief, an event to promote healing through a communal, creative experience. In partnership with Care Dimensions and Third Space Kitchen in Newton, MA, this new program invites families and individuals to prepare and share a meal while engaging in guided conversations about grief. Care Dimensions’ child life specialists will support families during the event and Third Space Kitchen will provide facilities in-kind. Cooking Through Grief will take place in March 2026.

In addition, the funding supports a one-day summit for loss survivors who are at least five years removed from their loss. At the event, which will take place at Regis College in April 2026, participants will explore how storytelling can foster connection, healing, and hope. Funding enables Samaritans to build on last year’s pilot summit, which The Parmenter Foundation also supported.

The grant also supports the launch of a new youth suicide loss support group for people aged 12-18. This closed, eight-week group will provide a safe space for teens to explore grief through conversation, creative expression, and peer connection. Guided by trained facilitators, participants will build coping skills, reduce isolation, and find meaning with peers. Samaritans plans to launch the group in late 2026.

For more information, or to sign up for Samaritans programs, visit SamaritansHope.org/GSS.

The Parmenter Foundation provides hope and support for MetroWest community members of all ages in need of compassionate end-of-life care or bereavement support. They award grant funding to nonprofit organizations that deliver high-quality programs within their focus areas, and they develop and offer inspirational and educational resources to help their neighbors navigate through the challenging grief process. The Parmenter Foundation is committed to helping families cope, heal and build resilience. Learn more at www.parmenterfoundation.org.

Samaritans, Inc. is a Massachusetts-based suicide prevention organization that offers free, confidential, and nonjudgmental services to all who need them. Each day, Samaritans answers hundreds of calls and texts through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Hey Sam, a peer mental health support textline for young people. Samaritans also offers support groups for those affected by suicide and training so anyone can learn to help those in crisis.

Since 1974, Samaritans has answered more than 3.5 million calls and texts; educated 200,000 people to prevent suicide; supported 24,000 suicide loss survivors; and trained 6,500 volunteers to provide compassionate support.