For some people, the holidays are anything but happy. People who are grieving may find the hustle and bustle of the season is especially hard to handle. Jeri Culbertson wants to help.

The owner of Naturally Gifted by Jeri in Elizabethtown will hold a series of grief support groups in December. "Speak Your Peace: A Sanctuary of Solace for the Grieving Soul" will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on Sundays, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, with the possible addition of Dec. 24 if there is enough interest. The sessions will be offered free of charge at 1 Market St., Suite 103. A freewill offering will be accepted to cover the cost of refreshments and supplies.

"I want people to know they are not alone during the holidays," Culbertson said. "I struggle this time of year. I lost my parents and a lot of my family in October and November. It can be very hard when you see everybody with their families, happy, cheerful, and you're not. There are not a lot of places where you can feel safe to share how you're feeling."

The sessions will include breathing exercises and meditations, providing help and support for participants. "Each week, we'll find a different tool in the toolbox to get through the holidays," Culbertson said. An ordained Presbyterian deacon, she often holds workshops and groups on a variety of topics, and she has attended grief support programs in the past.

"I really feel like in the last couple of years, there is a need for something like this," she said. "Many people lost someone through COVID, or they are just looking for connection during this time of year."

There is no registration required for the sessions; participants can just show up each week.

"I want people to feel like this is a place for them to come and be welcomed," she stated. "You don't have to share if you don't want to. You can just sit and listen and know that you are not alone."

She emphasized that the support group is nondenominational and will not have a religious focus. Instead, it will be a place of inclusion for anyone.

"Grief is hard. The holidays are hard. When you put them together, some days are even harder," she said. "I want this to be a place where people of all faiths and backgrounds can come and feel safe."

For more information on the program, search for "Naturally Gifted by Jeri" on Facebook or call the store at 717-449-0336.