Innovative Wind Phones Help Grieving Individuals Connect

Fox Valley Hands of Hope in Geneva has launched two innovative wind phones designed to help grieving individuals connect with lost loved ones. These wind phones were inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 20, recognized as National Children's Grief Awareness Day.

This initiative features a light green rotary phone housed in a wooden framed box and a toy rotary phone, designed for younger users, which is held in a light blue wooden box. The adult phone is accessible for grieving adults, while the child’s phone is intended for children, providing a unique space for both demographics to express their feelings.

The concept of wind phones originated in Japan in 2010, when Itaru Sasaki created one to cope with the death of his cousin. After the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami in the Tohoku region, Sasaki opened his private phone booth to the public, and since then, replicas have been established globally, including one at Faith Community United Church of Christ in Prairie Grove.

The wind phones at Fox Valley Hands of Hope are not connected to any communication network; instead, they allow users to 'speak' to their lost loved ones, with their words carried away by the wind. According to the My Wind Phone website, there are now 387 wind phones across the United States, including the newest installation in Geneva.

Fox Valley Hands of Hope also provides a variety of free grief support services, including group counseling, individual therapy, wellness programs, and family camps for those affected by loss in Kane, DuPage, DeKalb, and Kendall counties.

Services are available in both English and Spanish. November is designated as Children's Grief Awareness Month, emphasizing the need for increased understanding and support for young individuals facing grief.

Statistics reveal that in Illinois, one in twelve children will endure the loss of a parent or sibling before turning eighteen. The National Alliance for Children's Grief and its partners work to raise awareness through educational resources and events to foster a more supportive environment for grieving youth.

The wind phone committee at Fox Valley Hands of Hope comprises several dedicated members, including Executive Director Jonathan Shively, Jenny Anderson, Rita Morales Berger, Kim Byrne, Mercie Deleon-Brumfield, Marcia Dingman, Lynda McGrath, Cyndi Miller, Kim Rich, and Lisa Safran.

They are optimistic about establishing another wind phone in a public location in the coming year to further aid those in need of grief support.