WINDHAM — When Ella Geraci was barely out of elementary school, grief entered her life all at once when three of her grandparents died from cancer in the span of two years, leaving her with emotions far bigger than the words she had to describe them.
When conversation felt impossible, dance became her outlet for the confusion, sadness and weight she felt from the loss of the people that anchored her family and filled her childhood with warmth and tradition.
“It was my favorite form of creative expression,” she said. “Having that support system was so helpful for me. When you’re that young, it’s really hard to express yourself and dancing helped me heal.”
That early relationship between grief and art later inspired Geraci to give back to children and teens navigating complex emotions on their own. As part of a community project her freshman class was tasked with, Geraci, now 16, came up with the idea for Hope for Heartache, a student-led initiative centered on art, empathy and service.
Geraci provides art supplies, like journals, coloring books, drawing materials and other creative tools, and accepts monetary donations, for children and teens in need of a safe, expressive outlet for their emotions. Her goal is to reach kids facing grief in all of its forms, whether from the death of a loved one, a serious illness, divorce or other life-altering experiences.
“Many people don’t know about the healing power of the arts and many families can’t afford those resources,” she said.
“Many children out there are dealing with similar situations, and having an outlet to express themselves can be so beneficial for so many people and can really make a difference in a young child’s life.”
The project began taking shape in the fall when Geraci decided she wanted to turn her project into a community service initiative that would make an impact on her community.
Since then, she has raised $300 and collected numerous art supply donations for Friends of Anya, a Manchester-based nonprofit that provides grief counseling to children and families. Additional partnerships have followed, including a growing interest from Dartmouth Hitchcock’s Children’s Hospital, which accepts in-kind donations for pediatric patients and families.
With a grant from the National Honor’s Society, Geraci has started to assemble care packages that will be donated and distributed through Windham Helping Hands to families in need and local children’s organizations. Each package includes different art supplies based on the organization and the age of the recipients.
“I want to give as many children as I can the opportunity to try to navigate their grief and turn it into growth for themselves,” Geraci said.
In an effort to expand her initiative, Geraci spent months working with school administrators and members of the Windham School Board to establish a club on campus. The Hope Club was approved last week, with its first meeting scheduled for the final week of February.
Open to the entire school, the club will focus on raising awareness about grief and loss while supporting organizations that serve affected children and teens. Members will assemble care packages, lead art-based service projects and organize donation drives.
“There are so many students who want to get involved in their community,” Geraci said. “Now we can work together and give back in a meaningful way.”
Her mother, Diane Phillips Geraci, said the process required patience.
“From a parental standpoint, there were a lot of steps through the school district,” she said. “But this really came from Ella and her desire to help others.”
In March, Geraci will host her first Dance4Hope event at C. Wixson Barre Studio in Windham, where owner Cally Weymouth has offered studio space. The donation-supported dance class will be open to the community, with proceeds benefitting local organizations.
Geraci also plans to bring art projects to younger students, allowing high school students to serve as role models while sparking creativity in younger children.
“Almost everyone has experienced loss,” she said. “Having an outlet, especially at a young age, can make such a difference.”
Geraci hopes her initiative will continue long after she graduates. With strong interest from underclassmen like her younger sister, Olivia, and her group of friends, Geraci sees The Hope Club as something that can grow and endure.
“It’s incredible to see something I dreamed about actually take action,” she said. “If we can help kids turn their grief into growth, then we’re doing something right.”