28-04-2025
Nonprofit helps widowed parents find support amidst a ‘roller coaster' of grief
FARRAGUT, Tenn. (WATE) — The grief of losing a spouse can debilitating and isolating, but for parents who are left behind with children, the responsibilities of raising a family while navigating that grief can feel overwhelming. One nonprofit in Knox County is working to help parents who have lost a spouse find a support system and healing.
On Sunday, the Widowed Parent Relief Project (WPRP) nonprofit held their third annual 'Family Friendzy,' a backyard sports competition and auction fundraiser for widowed parents and their children.
'I didn't know a lot of people in my boat with kids and, you know, losing a spouse has been the hardest thing in my life easily,' said Kate Sladek a widowed mother with two children.
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Sladek lost her husband six years ago, and found crucial support through the Widowed Parent Relief Project.
'They provided a babysitting and self-care stipend. They provided a home organizer, which I had no clue how badly I really needed. They provided house cleaning. That was huge. And then they also set up, made sure that I had a network of supporting family and friends in the community,' explained Sladek.
The nonprofit's competition included backyard skills challenges—basketball, baseball, hockey, football, and more.
'Many widowed parents can feel isolated and abandoned left alone on an island. It's not common to be young and widowed and so I love when they come to this event because they see that there are so many people that are making this organization happen and that love them is really all we want to do is we just want to love on them in a way that's unique to them,' said Kelly Orrico the Executive Director and Co-Founder of WPRP.
The WPRP brings together families who've experienced loss by serving married men and women who have been widowed within the last three years and have children under the age of 18 living at home. A mission that began after Orrico suffered a massive stroke in 2016.
'At the time, my four children were 14, 12, 12 and 10, and I was given one hour to live. And after this, a series of miracles, miraculous events – honestly, just boom, boom, boom – that occurred. I survived. And an event like that leaves you to wonder, what am I alive for and why am I here? And how am I going to spend the rest of the minutes that I have left on Earth?' Orrico added.
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Sladek's advice for other widowed parents: accept support and hold on to the local community.
'It's still a complete roller coaster. You have your high highs and your low lows. I feel like right now, everything in life is still very bittersweet. My husband, Brian, is, you know, missing these milestones with these amazing kids. And I have complete faith that he's looking down on us and that he knows.'
If you are interested in getting involved in the nonprofit or have a family that you want to refer you can go to for more information.
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