48 NJ Teens Help Grieving Kids Find Hope at Imagine Center

When a child loses someone they love, sometimes the most healing presence comes from a compassionate teenager who simply listens.

At Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss in New Jersey, 48 teen volunteers just wrapped up another year of helping grieving children find community and hope. The nonprofit celebrated these remarkable young people at its first-ever Teen Volunteer Appreciation Event in Mountainside on May 28.

These teenagers don't just show up. They facilitate peer support groups, welcome arriving families, lead activities, and provide what might matter most: a meaningful connection for kids navigating grief.

Imagine serves over 150 families throughout New Jersey with free support programs for children ages 3 to 18 and young adults up to 30 who've experienced loss. The programs run year-round in Newark and Mountainside, plus virtually, with groups offered in both English and Spanish.

"Their energy, empathy, leadership and dedication help create the supportive atmosphere that allows children and families to feel seen, heard, and understood," said Lindsay Schambach, Imagine's Executive Director. Teen volunteers work alongside adult facilitators during Nights of Support, creating spaces where kids can process grief with peers who understand.

Sunny's Take

What strikes me most is that these teens choose to spend their evenings with families in pain when they could be anywhere else. Nine graduating seniors, including Tim Jiao and Alexis Zhang, devoted their high school years to this work. That's the kind of compassion that doesn't just help today's grieving families but shapes tomorrow's leaders.

The appreciation event brought together teen volunteers and their families, recognizing both the teenagers' service and the parents who support their commitment. For many of these young volunteers, showing up consistently for kids who are hurting becomes one of the most meaningful experiences of their teenage years.

Anyone interested in volunteering can attend a tour at either Imagine location or virtually by visiting imaginenj.org. The center also provides training and education on loss and grief to the broader community, alongside support groups for parents and caregivers.

These 48 teenagers prove that young people are already changing their communities for the better, one compassionate evening at a time.