OKEECHOBEE – Hospice of Okeechobee has expanded support to families of those who are facing the end of their lives.

During the Sept. 16 meeting of Hospice of Okeechobee’s Ladies of Giving, Hospice counselor Luna Huff said Hospice has a grief support group, a group for caretakers and a children’s group.

The children’s group meets at the Okeechobee County Public Library and provides peer-to-peer support.

She said Hospice provides counseling within the schools and receives referrals from the school district.

She said they are planning the 2027 Camp Braveheart, which has been very popular with the children who are processing grief.

“Camp was very impactful for a lot of the children,” she said. Huff said the children she counsels often ask her when the next camp will be held. “It’s a good opportunity for a child who has experienced a loss,” she said.

Hospice grief support is not limited to the families of Hospice patients, she explained. “It's for the entire community.”

She said in Okeechobee, it is hard for some families to find counseling services.

With Hospice, “there are not barriers in waiting for insurance to cover it,” Huff explained.

Hospice Director of Philanthropy Tracy Hernandez said they worked hard to bring Camp Braveheart to Okeechobee County. The first year, they had five campers. The second year, they had 20. They are expecting more than 30 children to participate in 2027.

Hernandez said the funds raised by the Women of Giving provide services to the community that are not funded by Medicaid or insurance.

She said the Altobello Family Fund recently donated $20,000 to cover the fees for the use of Camp Impact facility in Okeechobee County for the 2027 Camp Braveheart.