About Amanda the Panda

The idea for Amanda the Panda was born in 1980 by JoAnn Zimmerman. The primary focus for Amanda the Panda during the first seven years was to be a special friend to children living with cancer. Amanda the Panda’s work with grieving children evolved naturally from this original purpose.

In 2013, Gregory and Suzie Glazer Burt gifted Amanda the Panda with a forever home at 1821 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines, the site of a former hospice house. In November 2014, Amanda the Panda became a program within the family of compassionate non-profit services offered by EveryStep. Amanda the Panda’s expertise in supporting children and adults through the grieving process is naturally aligned with the bereavement services offered by EveryStep. This partnership is an exciting one that allows us to serve more children and families across our state.

We are eager to share our story and mission and continue to provide hope and healing to many more families with your support. With vision and dedication, Amanda the Panda and EveryStep Grief & Loss Services will continue to bring compassion, healing, and joy to children, individuals, and families.

Download our brochure

Amanda the Panda Support Groups

With the goal of promoting peer support and connectivity, our Braving Grief support groups work to recognize how grief affects our minds and our bodies. Our Braving Grief series includes specific groups like Traumatic Loss and Little Footprints: Perinatal and Infant Loss. Each activity helps participants identify and accept grief emotions like anger and guilt, learn healthy coping skills, and create rituals to honor loved ones who have died. Seasonal six-week support group sessions are held four times throughout the year. Every support group includes dinner followed by small group activities based on age and type of loss to facilitate helpful discussion and sharing. Childcare is available upon request for children preschool-aged and under. Registration is required.

Cheer Boxes

For those that have lost a loved one, the holidays can be especially difficult. Cheer Boxes are a holiday box of twelve family-friendly gifts that go out to all families that have felt the pain of losing a loved one. During the holiday season, we want to remind them that they have our support. EveryStep Grief & Loss Services hopes to provide Cheer Boxes to hundreds of families each holiday season.

Submit names for Cheer Boxes

Nominate A Family to Receive a Cheer Box: Do you know of a family or individual who has lost a loved one this year? Nominate them today to receive a Cheer Box from EveryStep! Simply click the link above and fill out the form.

Wrap and Deliver Gifts: A lot of love and hard work goes into our holiday cheer boxes, and that’s why we need your help! Volunteers can help wrap gifts, assist with the inventory process, and deliver boxes to families. No skills necessary and we’ll provide all the materials and instructions. This project begins in mid-November and ends in early December. You can volunteer as an individual or work with our team to organize a volunteer event with your business, church, or community group. To get more information about volunteering, contact Amanda Fagen at afagen@everystep.org.

Help Provide Cheer Box Gifts: We collect gifts for Cheer Boxes year-round. You can view a list of gifts we are looking for below. We invite you to shop at stores in person or check out our Wish List on Amazon and help us stock up on needed items. If you or your company would like to provide financial support or host a donation drive, contact Amanda Fagen at afagen@everystep.org.

Social Support Events

EveryStep's Amanda the Panda program offers socials that are devoted to engaging participants in activities that promote fun and offer an opportunity for individuals, children, and families to rebuild after the death of a loved one. Bring your whole family and even some friends for a fun social outing offered at various times throughout the year. If you have questions, please email griefandloss@everystep.org.

School Visits and Presentations

The staff at EveryStep's Amanda the Panda program often visits schools that have individuals who have been affected by the death of a loved one, a classmate, or a member of the school staff. School visits have included grief Q&A sessions with students, workshops with staff on how to provide support after a death, and collaboration with school staff to plan and host memorial ceremonies after a loss. Activities and discussions are tailored to meet the needs of the school, students, and the situation. If you have questions, please email griefandloss@everystep.org.

In-School Support Groups

Amanda the Panda provides six-week in-school support groups throughout the year on a first-come, first-served limited basis. In-school groups include age-appropriate activities to help students share emotions and connect with peers who have also experienced significant losses. The in-school groups are unique to other Amanda the Panda programs because they are open to students who have experienced losses beyond death of a loved one, such as loss from divorce, custody removal, absence of a caregiver, terminal diagnosis of a loved one, and more. If you have questions, please email griefandloss@everystep.org.

Community Support

Many times, we experience grief as a community. Maybe your organization or workplace has lost a member of its team, or your town is suffering the loss of a special individual. EveryStep offers support to groups and entire communities through our Day of Hope and Healing, a combined effort with other programs that are tailored to the needs of the community. Activities help residents heal after tragedy and promote healing for losses that may not fit within our traditional support groups. If you have questions, please email griefandloss@everystep.org.

Grief & Loss Services' Amanda the Panda Team

Do you have questions for our Amanda the Panda team? Please call 515-223-4847 or email griefandloss@everystep.org.

Ashley Mori
Program Director
MA, LMHC, IADC

Rachel Dolan
Program Manager
Rural Schools

Taylor Clemens
Program Coordinator
Programs

Amanda Fagen
Program Coordinator
Volunteers

Alicia Olsen
Program Coordinator
Schools

Marina Cruz-Espino
Program Coordinator
Schools