Camp Cocoon helps children cope with a loss

  • Elissa Robertson gets help decorating her memory stone from Lisa Garrison.
    Elissa Robertson gets help decorating her memory stone from Lisa Garrison.
  • Gunner Westphal gets help with his project from Mary Beth Westphal during Camp Cocoon.
    Gunner Westphal gets help with his project from Mary Beth Westphal during Camp Cocoon.
  • Zane Sanderlin shows off the next decoration he will be using to Julie Week during Camp Cocoon sponsored by PruittHealth Hospice. The event was designed to help children cope with the loss of a loved one.
    Zane Sanderlin shows off the next decoration he will be using to Julie Week during Camp Cocoon sponsored by PruittHealth Hospice. The event was designed to help children cope with the loss of a loved one.
  • Owen Mull works on his masterpiece during this year’s Camp Cocoon.
    Owen Mull works on his masterpiece during this year’s Camp Cocoon.
  • Charleigh Brown carefully pours the second layer of concrete into the mold for her memory stone. A first layer was poured into the mold, then children wrote a memory of a loved one they had lost, placed it on that layer, and added a second layer of concrete on top. The stone was then decorated to make it personal.
    Charleigh Brown carefully pours the second layer of concrete into the mold for her memory stone. A first layer was poured into the mold, then children wrote a memory of a loved one they had lost, placed it on that layer, and added a second layer of concrete on top. The stone was then decorated to make it personal.
  • Memory stones took a lot of work by youngsters and volunteers alike during Camp Cocoon. This was the scene Saturday morning, May 3, during the annual event sponsored by PruittHealth Hospice.
    Memory stones took a lot of work by youngsters and volunteers alike during Camp Cocoon. This was the scene Saturday morning, May 3, during the annual event sponsored by PruittHealth Hospice.
  • Makensley Bush spreads concrete into her mold under the watchful eye of Jasmine Green.
    Makensley Bush spreads concrete into her mold under the watchful eye of Jasmine Green.

    Camp Cocoon has returned to its status as an annual event, this year hosting  20 children, most of whom were from  Fannin County.

    The camp is geared to help children ages 5 to 14 cope with separation due to the loss of a loved one.

    PruittHealth Hospice sponsors the event, but Amy Beavers, community relations representative for the organization, explains Camp Cocoon is not just for children who have lost someone through hospice.

    The camp is free for kids to attend.

    The all-day event, this year held at Fannin County Middle School Saturday, May 3, featured a variety of activities and a petting zoo.

    Sponsors for this year’s event were United Community Bank, Wright Brothers Construction, Akins-Cobb Funeral Home, Blue Ridge Mountain Plumbing, Cochran-McDaniel Funeral Home, Wilson Plumbing, The Sweet Shoppe,

    Blue Ridge Pharmacy, Blue Ridge Creamery, Pinnacle Bank, S&L Plumbing, Kevin Panter Insurance, Carver’s Window Tinting, Stone Trucking, The Copper Grill and the PruittCares Foundation.