This month is the three-year anniversary of the death of Christine Roe's daughter, Ashley.

Knowing that the holiday season can be difficult for bereaved parents in general, Roe organized a support group meeting to give parents who have lost children a place to share their feelings.

The Bereaved Parents of the USA now has a chapter in Butler County that will meet for group sessions on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Victory Family Church in Cranberry Township.

“We thought it was important to have one meeting this month because we were worried about them experiencing the holiday season, which is hard,” Roe said. “We will provide discussions on different topics, how to handle holidays, anniversaries.”

Roe said she had attended support group sessions and therapy in the past in search of supportive ways to grieve. However, there had not been any groups in the county made specifically for bereaved parents, which Roe said is a different breed of sadness than that of other loved ones.

She said she wanted to start a chapter of Bereaved Parents USA because it is a group she could have used when she first became bereaved.

“You find there are a lot of people there for spouses, but not children, which is very different,” Roe said. “Just having a place to let those emotions out with people who experienced the same thing, it would have been very helpful.”

Roe said five people attended the first meeting Monday. She said she hopes to see the group grow in members, but understands it can be intimidating for the target demographic to make the first step of attending a meeting.

“We don't make people speak, it's totally only if they want to speak,” Roe said. “We listen openly and we encourage people and help them get through things.”

Although small now, Roe said the group is already working on connecting its members through phone numbers and emails, so they have somewhere to turn when they get hit with emotions.

She also plans to provide resources through the group, such as counselors and a group Facebook page, to also aid those in need.

She said by simply providing an outlet for bereaved parents, she hopes to help them process their emotions.

“People don't want to bring it up or talk about your child,” Roe said. “Our goals are to offer understanding and encouragement and hope.”

According to Roe, Butler County Bereaved Parents of the USA will meet at 6:30 p.m. the second Monday of every month at Victory Family Church, 21150 Route 19, and host virtual meetings on the fourth Monday of each month. She said although the group meets in church, it is nondenominational.

For more information, call Butler County Bereaved Parents of the USA at 724-370-3787 or visit https://butlercountybpusa.wixsite.com/bcbpusa.