Covenant Hospice recently received a $25,000 grant from the Pepsi Foundation to “refresh the Gulf” following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill earlier this year.

As recipients of the grant, Covenant Hospice arranged what they called “strength and resilience workshops” with the funds received. The grant will cover the cost of two workshops to be held in Foley at the Gift Horse Restaurant.

The goal of both workshops is to provide the public with tools and refreshing ways to cope with loss through the stress, grief and changes brought about by the oil spill.

Jackie Crews, Development Manager for Covenant Hospice, said the organization applied for the grant because they felt there was a need they could meet if the resources to do so were available. In the past, Covenant Hospice has offered its services to other communities hit by disaster, including the community of Enterprise,  after the community was struck by a devastating tornado.

“As a hospice organization, we help people deal with grief and stress everyday. Whether the grief is from the loss of a loved one or from the loss of a job, the ways to cope are the same,” Crews said.

Because of Covenant Hospice staff’s familiarity with dealing with grief, finding a way to help the local community deal with grief of another kind seemed like something worth doing.

According to Crews, the organization became aware of the Pepsi grants available for projects to aid the areas hit by the oil spill and once the proposal was put together and up the entire organization was active in trying to get votes. According to Crews, unlike most grants, the public was allowed to vote on the projects they deemed most worthy of Pepsi’s money. Crews said all of the employees did their part voting and getting everyone they knew to vote as well. Covenant Hospice beat out more than 50 other projects in their category to receive this grant. 

The first workshop was held earlier this week and was entitled “Feeling good when times are bad,” and featured motivational guest speaker Drexel Gilbert. Gilbert is a former news anchor who was forced to reinvent herself and persevere when her career as a news anchor suddenly ended.

During the workshop Gilbert advised everyone to keep movin’ and keep groovin’ no matter what life has to throw at you. She shared stories about her life where doors were flung open for her, but she also shared her story of when the rug was completely pulled out from under her when her position as a news anchor was suddenly terminated.

She said one of the hardest days of her life was the day after when the last thing she wanted to do was face the world. Instead of allowing her life to pass her by, however, she faced her monster head-on. She got out of bed, got dressed, put on her makeup and headed to Walmart to face the world. According to Gilbert, in order to overcome obstacles you have to face them head on and refuse to let the world pass you by.

Gilbert truly believes that when one door closes, another one opens.

Lee Green, bereavement specialist at Covenant Hospice added that the trick is no one ever tells you about the hell in the hallway, but there is always hope ahead as well.

Members of relief and aid organizations, including Goodwill Easter Seals, primarily attended the first workshop.

 Members who attended felt the workshop was educational, and felt what they learned would be very useful when dealing with those impacted by the oil spill.

The first workshop focused on how to identify the signs of stress, explain the negative impacts of stress and how to alleviate stress because most of those impacted by the oil spill have been under a considerable amount of stress for the past few months.

The final workshop will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at the Gift Horse beginning at 11 a.m. This workshop will be entitled “Strengthening families in challenging times and helping kids when times are tough.”

The workshops will be provided free of charge and are open to the public, however, reservations are required.

Reservations for the final workshop must be received by Friday, Dec. 3. To RSVP, please call Ashley Dennis at 251-626-5255.