Dustin’s Place opens new grief support center to serve families in Marshall and St. Joseph Counties

Dustin’s Place, a nonprofit dedicated to providing grief support for children and families, will celebrate the grand opening of its new home on Wednesday, October 1, at the LifePlex Building, 2855 Miller Drive, Plymouth. The event will feature a 10:30 a.m. ribbon cutting with refreshments and tours, followed by a 5:30 p.m. family dedication ceremony with an ice cream bar and additional tours.

For the past five years, Dustin’s Place has relied on borrowed church space to host its grief support programs, serving more than 900 individuals. Thanks to the generosity of the community and a successful six-month capital campaign, the organization is moving into a fully funded, purpose-built center designed better to meet the needs of grieving children and their families.

The new Dustin’s Place Children’s Grief Center will offer expanded programming, including daytime and evening peer support groups, Saturday workshops, and specialized rooms for healing through art and movement. Highlights include an Art Expression Room equipped with art supplies and guided activities to help children process grief creatively, a Volcano Room, which is a unique space for physical expression, where children can release emotions through movement in a safe environment and a Family Dining Room, a space for up to 100 individuals to share meals, attend workshops, and strengthen family and community connections.

“Children’s grief is near to my heart as the mom of three grieving children,” said Viki Brown, MS, GC-C, founder and executive director of Dustin’s Place. “My kids’ dad’s death will forever be a part of their story, but it isn’t their entire story. Dustin’s Place exists to provide that same hope to other families—that no child should grieve alone.”

With one in ten children experiencing the death of a parent or sibling before age 18, Dustin’s Place is committed to breaking the silence around childhood grief, equipping children with coping skills, and fostering resilience that can prevent future challenges.

The opening of this center was made possible through the extraordinary support of the community. Dustin’s Place extends heartfelt gratitude to the Holm family for their generosity in providing a ten-year lease for just $1, to Ancon Construction for their partnership throughout the design and construction process, and to the Marshall County Council, County Commissioners, Bourbon Town Council, Plymouth Town Council, and Culver Town Council for believing in and supporting the mission. Special thanks also go to Marshall County United Way for helping secure a $316,000 matching grant, and to the entire community whose generosity made this dream a reality.

While Dustin’s Place is proud to open the doors to this new facility debt-free, the growth in programs will bring with it the need for continued support. The organization looks forward to working alongside the community to ensure its mission endures: that no child grieves alone.

About Dustin’s Place

Founded in 2020, Dustin’s Place is a nonprofit based in Plymouth, Indiana, providing grief support for children and families after the death of a loved one. Through peer support groups, community education, and awareness initiatives, Dustin’s Place has impacted more than 900 individuals across Marshall and St. Joseph Counties. The organization’s mission is to ensure no child grieves alone by offering hope, healing, and connection. Learn more at www.dustinsplace.org.