Valerie's House

Valerie's House Valerie's House is the first and only grief support center in SWFL focused solely on helping children grieve.

Valerie's House provides a loving place for grieving families in the community where children learn that loss doesn't have to limit their dreams. Help us support grieving children and their families by contributing at valerieshouse.org under the Donate tab.

06/23/2026

🎥 Grief on the Street: Episode 14

While at the NACG National Alliance for Children's Grief Symposium, Alexis asked grief professionals from across the country one question:

What's one thing you've learned working with grieving children?

Here’s what they had to say.

Champions On and Off the Ice 🏆We know we're a little late on this one, but we couldn't let it pass without congratulatin...
06/22/2026

Champions On and Off the Ice 🏆

We know we're a little late on this one, but we couldn't let it pass without congratulating the Florida Everblades on another Kelly Cup championship.

We're so grateful for community partners like the Florida Everblades who show up for grieving children and families in Southwest Florida. Just a few months ago, Finals MVP Cam Johnson, Logan Lambdin, and even Swampee spent time with our kids and teens. Cam shared about losing his dad when he was young and opened up about his own grief journey. Our kids and teens connected with that in a big way.

Congratulations, Everblades. Thanks for showing our children and families they're not alone.

Honoring the heart behind Valerie’s House.We’re incredibly grateful to the Women of Distinction Awards for recognizing o...
06/21/2026

Honoring the heart behind Valerie’s House.

We’re incredibly grateful to the Women of Distinction Awards for recognizing our founder and CEO, Angela Melvin, as the 2026 Woman of the Year.

Angela’s own experience with childhood grief inspired her to create Valerie’s House so no child has to grieve alone.

Her vision, compassion, and commitment continue to change the lives of grieving children and families across our community every day.

Congratulations, Angela. This honor is so well deserved.

Holding space today for dads, father figures, and everyone missing them.Father’s Day can bring a lot of emotions.Today, ...
06/21/2026

Holding space today for dads, father figures, and everyone missing them.

Father’s Day can bring a lot of emotions.

Today, we’re celebrating the dads and father figures who show up with love and support. And we’re thinking about every child, teen, young adult, and caregiver who is missing their dad today.

For some, this might just be one of those days you want to get through. If that’s where you are, that’s okay.

Just like in our groups, our kids and teens remind us that they don’t have to carry grief alone. In this activity, they shared what’s hard about Father’s Day and missing Dad, then helped each other come up with ways to make the day a little easier.

Whatever today looks like for you, we’re with you. You are not alone.

The woman in yellow is Shy. She attends Valerie's House with her niece, Serenity.Shy's son, Preston, loved cooking for p...
06/20/2026

The woman in yellow is Shy. She attends Valerie's House with her niece, Serenity.

Shy's son, Preston, loved cooking for people and was working toward opening his own food truck before he died. The truck you see behind them in this photo was his dream.

Instead of letting that dream die too, his family decided to keep it going.

When we heard their story, we asked if they'd be open to sharing it with our friends at Gulf Coast News. They immediately said yes.

Then came a pretty incredible full-circle moment.

Preston's family brought the food truck to Valerie's House and cooked dinner for the very families they sit beside on group nights.

Using their son's legacy to support other people on their own grief journeys.

We hear so many powerful stories from our families. Stories of love, perseverance, kindness, and strength.

We're so grateful to Shy, Serenity, and their family for trusting us to be part of their grief journey and for allowing us to help share Preston's story with our community. And thank you to Gulf Coast News for helping tell it.

Grieving children are helping shape the future of children’s grief support.This week at the NACG National Alliance for C...
06/19/2026

Grieving children are helping shape the future of children’s grief support.

This week at the NACG National Alliance for Children's Grief Symposium, our team had the honor of sharing our Teen and Young Adult Ambassador Program with grief support centers from across the country.

What makes this program so special is simple: kids who once came to Valerie’s House for support now come back to support others.

Stori, Emely, and Alexis came to Valerie’s House as grieving children. Today, they’re helping younger kids, sharing their stories, and building a future where no child grieves alone.

As we connected with other organizations, we quickly realized just how unique this program is, and several shared plans to create ambassador programs of their own.

We’re so proud of our team and deeply grateful to our founder and CEO, Angela Melvin, who created the kind of space she needed as a grieving child, so children today don’t have to grieve alone.

This movement exists because children grieved alone.As we sat among nearly 600 peers at the NACG National Alliance for C...
06/18/2026

This movement exists because children grieved alone.

As we sat among nearly 600 peers at the NACG National Alliance for Children's Grief Symposium in San Antonio, one thing became so clear to us.

So many of the people who started children’s grief support centers, and so many who now work in these spaces, have their own grief stories that began in childhood.

This movement was built by children who grew up knowing what it felt like to grieve alone and decided to create the spaces they wish they had.

We’re incredibly thankful to learn, share ideas, and grow alongside so many amazing organizations as we work toward the same goal: making sure no child has to grieve alone.

We have so much to be thankful for.We’re so proud of our team and so grateful to be part of this incredible community of...
06/17/2026

We have so much to be thankful for.

We’re so proud of our team and so grateful to be part of this incredible community of children’s grief support organizations across the country.

The 29th annual National Alliance for Children’s Grief Symposium in San Antonio was such a meaningful time for reflection, sharing ideas, hearing stories, holding space, being present, and learning from one another.

It was a chance for us to grow as individuals and as a team. The connections we made, the conversations we had, and the time we spent together reinvigorated our purpose and reminded us of our why.

We have so much more to share from this experience in the coming days, but for now, we’re just feeling incredibly grateful. It’s an honor to do this work and to keep finding new ways to better support the grieving children and families who need connection, support, and hope.

Because no child should grieve alone.

Believe it or not, this is a counseling session.The boy in this photo lost his dad. One of his favorite things to do wit...
06/15/2026

Believe it or not, this is a counseling session.

The boy in this photo lost his dad. One of his favorite things to do with him was go fishing.

So Shaun grabbed a couple fishing poles and headed to the pond behind Valerie's House.

That's one of the things that makes Shaun so special. As a registered play therapist, he knows that sometimes healing conversations don't happen sitting across from each other in an office. Sometimes they happen on a basketball court. Sometimes through sand therapy. And sometimes while casting a line into the water.

We're so grateful for Shaun and the heart he brings to every child and family he serves. ❤️

Address

3551 Valerie's House Way
Fort Myers, FL
33916

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(239) 204-5804

Website

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