Season 3 EP2 - Cornerstone of Hope, Molly O'Driscoll

Welcome to Season 3 - Episode 2 of The Bridge to Kindness Project Podcast

On this Episode you will hear from the following organization:

Cornerstone of Hope - Molly O'Driscoll                                                00:00 - 12:15

Each episode features interviews on how you can be involved, volunteer, donate and make a difference being a part of these non-profits in our region.  To learn how your organization can become a part of The Bridge to Kindness project send an email to theBridgetoKindness@gmail.com.  Thanks for listening!  New episodes air each week at 1pm on Saturdays.

You can also find out about The Bridge to Kindness Project by visiting our website at www.TheBridgetoKindness.com.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:15

Welcome to season three and episode two of the Bridge to Kindness Podcast. I'm Ron Smith. This podcast is made possible through the generosity of EPS, signature carpet care, Happy's Financial Credit Union, Expressions Global Design, and Lindsay Honda. On our website, thebridge tokindness.com, you'll find out more about our mission and have access to links to the organization's websites We Spot Money, as well as an archive of the interviews we have here on the podcast. We would love to hear from you. Whether you're a volunteer or you lead a nonprofit organization, you can reach us through the website or email us at thebridge tokindness at gmail.com. Cornerstone of Hope is a place that people can come to receive support for themselves or their family when they need it the most. They offer a variety of services, including professional counseling for individuals or in some cases the entire family. Their goal is to make services available for those who need it. In addition, they can also provide training on how to effectively care for someone affected by the death of a loved one. This can be for family members or even businesses who want to offer support for employees who have been affected. They have become a resource for funeral homes, schools, churches, doctors, hospitals, and other methods of support, so they can have a reliable central resource that is dedicated to bereavement care for those in need. Their goal is a simple one, but it's also to help find new hope after the loss of a loved one. With us today, please welcome Molly O'Driscoll, who serves as the clinical director for Cornerstone of Hope. Welcome, Molly. Can you share with us the history of Cornerstone of Hope?

SPEAKER_02 2:01

So Corner Cornerstone of Hope started um in 2003. And our founders, um, Mark and Christy Trapotium unexpectedly lost their young son, Bobby. And it was after their loss in 2000 seeking support to walk through that difficult time for them that they really felt called to create a place that would provide that support to others who are great. And so it really is from their own personal journey and their own personal loss of their child. And we've had a location here in the Columbus area. For 15 years, we're celebrating our anniversary here this year with that mission to create a world where we're no grieving person during the law. That we can grieve together. And we want to be a supportive place where people can do that.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

What are the different ways you help people? They're a cornerstone of hope.

SPEAKER_02 2:59

We provide trainings to professionals, we provide opportunities for learning. And so if it would be helpful to an organization to help us share brief education and information, we regularly provide that. We also, as part of the cornerstone of CAP Hope, provide a mid-Ohio traumatic loss response team. And their team helps support so many northern counties. And they are often looking for volunteers in Delaware, Franklin, Marion, and Morrow County. And so if kind of extending that, that kind of volunteerism might be closer to home for folks in that area. We have plenty of opportunities to connect with that team as part of our larger team too.

SPEAKER_00 3:45

Molly, share with us how you came to do the work that you do today with the Cornerstone of Hope.

SPEAKER_02 3:50

I previously worked um in funeral service and in hospice settings. And it was through my work in funeral service I really recognized this desire to continue to support people that are grieving the loss of a loved one. You know, at the at the time of a funeral service, um, we might have that additional layer of support for family and friends and co-workers. Um, but it's after that loss that I noticed so many people continue to need that support when everybody gets back to their day-to-day. And so in that setting, I searched for resources to help support families and I learned about Cornerstone Hope. Um, and fast forward, I had an opportunity to join the organization and have found um continuing that work to serve people that are grieving and to support them through that process. Um has been extremely rewarding for me.

SPEAKER_00 4:43

How have you seen what you do make a difference in so many people's lives?

SPEAKER_02 4:48

I see that direct impact gratefully, almost daily. Um, I have the privilege to work with clients individually. And so to share those moments with them in a conversation where they might realize that they've um developed some coping strategies or they're able to recognize uh maybe some strengths that were hard to hold on to when they're breathing. Um to see those transformations in people and bear witness to that and walk through them with that. Walk with them through that journey is a way to see that direct impact. Um another example would be through our summer camp program. We offer bereavement camps for children ages six to 17 over the course of the summer. And we just had our day camp in June. And to be able to see campers start that week, um unsure and maybe scared to meet other uh other campers and to be able to share about their loss and know they're going to talk about some challenging things, but to befriend other kiddos that can relate to loss at a young age and to see them smile and have fun and still be a kid while also talking about grief and feelings and supports and coping. Um, it's really meaningful to see the impact that way too.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

When we come back, we'll talk with Molly about the ways you can get involved with Cornerstone of Hope. You're listening to the Bridge to Kindness podcast. I'm Ron Smith. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_01 6:30

Thank you for joining us today on the Bridge to Kindness Podcast. Today's episode is made possible through the generosity of EPS, Pathways Financial Credit Union, Signature Carpet Care, Expressions Floral Design, and Lindsay Honda. To reach us, you can email us at thebridge tokindness at gmail.com. We would love to hear from you whether you want to nominate an organization to be on our show or share with us your own experience in the nonprofit industry. That's thebridgetindness at gmail.com. For additional information about today's guests and the organizations we spotlight, go to www.thridgetness.com. That's thebridgetness.com welcome back to the Bridge to Kindness Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 7:33

I'm Ron Smith, joined today by Molly O'Driscoll, Clinical Director at Cornerstone of Hope. Molly, you've had an amazing journey in your time at Cornerstone of Hope. What's next as you continue to work at the organization?

SPEAKER_02 7:46

We are really eager to grow and to be able to just share with people that we're here. Grief is something we all experience in our lifetime, and it can still be a very lonely experience. And so just to be able to share with the community that we're here for you, we're here as a resource for you. And you can always return for that support is important. And so we hope to share that message and share about programs and services we offer. We hope to grow our volunteer community to be able to share that message and let folks know that we're here to support them, that they don't have to walk that journey alone.

SPEAKER_00 8:28

Where do you feel you make the most impact in your daily work?

SPEAKER_02 8:32

I think that impact really is on just that personal experience level. One thing really meaningful to me is when a person returns and participates in different programs and services. So one of the one of the joys of my role here is getting to provide support in creative ways and in different ways, whether that's individual counseling or support groups or memorial events or creative workshops. And so to see a person maybe start with one of those programs and then have a positive experience and choose to come back. Or to come back for programs year-to-year and take advantage of those different opportunities.

SPEAKER_00 9:12

What are ways that people can join with your organization on this journey to come alongside people?

SPEAKER_02 9:17

Some different opportunities to walk with us in that mission would be to volunteer, to share your time. And that could take different forms, whether you would like to interact with campers during camp week, for example, and participate in that way. Sometimes we need some administrative support too in helping prepare materials for different events or tabling different events in the community, just to share about who we are and what we do and we're here. And so being able to directly participate in activities or to help spread the word about activities would be really impactful and supportive steps to us in our mission.

SPEAKER_00 10:00

What would be the most effective way to get in contact with you?

SPEAKER_02 10:03

You are welcome to call our office anytime where we can share information over the phone. Our website specifically has an opportunity to click and see different volunteer events coming up, different ways you might be able to participate. So you can start that process online, visit our website in that way, give us a call. You can also reach out to any of us for support personally. And we're glad to share and answer questions you might have if that is any one specific area or know.

SPEAKER_00 10:34

Thank you, Molly, for sharing such great information about Cornerstone of Hope today. It's great to hear how you help so many in their time of need. Keep up the great work and making a difference. That brings to a close this edition of the Bridge to Kindness Podcast. This podcast is made possible through the generosity of EPS, Signature Carpet Care, Pathways Financial Credit Union, Expressions Floral Design, and Lindsay Honda. Special thanks to Molly Driscoll with Cornerstone of Hope for being with us today. Take a moment and think about how you can engage with a nonprofit or an organization in your community to make a difference in those around you. Join us again on our next episode of More Profile, More Individuals and Nonprofits in the Columbus region, and share how they help people and how you can be involved. Until then from all of us at the bridge to join us, I'm Ron Smith. Make a difference, make an impact.