OREGON, Wis. — The holiday season can be an especially hard time for those coping with loss.
Kris Gorsuch, a mental health and substance abuse professional, transformed her private pain into a powerful force for healing within the community.
The Kick Back Cafe in Oregon became Gorsuch’s refuge and the place where she rewrote her memoir chapters about her personal tragedy: the 2015 death of her former husband, Rich.
She knew it was the perfect place to create a space where others could find love and acceptance.
“It’s just where I think a lot of that healing takes place,” Gorsuch said.
Elizabeth Donahue, the owner of Kick Back Cafe, expressed her joy at her friend hosting the monthly Grief Cafe event inside the space. Donahue said the effort goes beyond only addressing death.
“It can be about life transition, it can be about previous loss, it can be pet loss, it can be human companionship loss,” Donahue said. “But everyone suffers from loss. So, it really transcends every possible demographic, and it’s something that we can all come together on.”
Gorsuch said she just wanted to offer support and help individuals find strength through shared sorrows.
“I’m hoping that with the holidays, it just gives a little bit of extra support for people, and will continue on throughout the new year,” Gorsuch said, looking ahead to the potential of 2024.
The next Grief Cafe at Kick Back Cafe is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 6, from 10 to 11 a.m.