OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Dandelion Project, a small non-profit organization based in Marion County, is expanding its efforts into Lake and Sumter Counties. Founded by Lisa Bolton in memory of her three children—DJ, who was stillborn in 1989, Quinn, who passed away in 2015 from a rare autoimmune form of encephalitis, and Kerri, who died in 2019 from an accidental overdose of heroin laced with fentanyl—the organization supports grieving families and raises awareness on child loss, addiction, and recovery.
Bolton, a grief and trauma specialist and part of the administrative team at Morrison Preschool in Leesburg, has partnered with Morrison United Methodist Church and Preschool to create a special holiday memorial. Together, they planted a donated tree in front of the church sanctuary as a year-round remembrance symbol.
During the holiday season, the community is invited to decorate the tree with ornaments in memory of loved ones. Participants can bring their own ornaments, create them, or use those provided by The Dandelion Project. After the holidays, the tree will become part of a permanent memorial, with a rock garden for community members to place rocks bearing the names of their loved ones.
In addition to the tree, The Dandelion Project holds remembrance ceremonies, butterfly releases, walks, and other memorial services—all free of charge. They’re also preparing to launch “Hugs From Heaven,” a program providing bereavement boxes and scholarships.
“I believe in community,” says Bolton. “One of the goals of the tree is to help bring back that feeling of community again!”