“Our pain gave us purpose … to help others heal, to feed those in need and to remind every grieving heart
that they are not alone.”
~ Grieving Youth & Families founder Leslie Martinez
Leslie Martinez has faced a lot of hardship in her life. The Grieving Youth and Families Pantry, now located at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Broadway, was borne from a deeply personal place of compassion and loss.
Martinez, founder of Grieving Youth and Families of the Merrimack Valley, experienced tremendous heartbreak: “I lost my oldest son, my children lost their father and my grandchildren lost their mother,” she shares.
She started a safe space and support group for youth and families to grieve.
“I’m especially focused on giving youth a place to be heard,” she said.
Leslie shared, “Through these painful experiences, I learned firsthand the depth of loss and how isolating grief can feel when there is no support.”
Out of that pain grew her desire to help others — to create a space where children, youth and families could come together, share their stories, and heal through understanding and compassion. Leslie shared her vision with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, where church members welcomed her with open hearts. Together, they created a safe and loving environment for anyone who has experienced loss.
The church generously donated space in the hall for grieving support sessions, held twice a week (see box).
“Typically we get 20 to 30 participants,” she said, explaining this is not a counseling session. “These gatherings are filled with compassion, open conversation and hope. We are not a therapy session — just a space for open conversation where everyone can lead, listen and share in the support group. Participants are encouraged to speak freely, listen deeply, and support one another through love and understanding, with no judgment — only care and compassion,” she said.
“We are also here for youth who are struggling educationally or emotionally and may find it hard to share their story. Our message to them is simple: You are not alone. We are here to listen, support and help you find your voice in a safe and loving environment,” she said.
Watching her kids grow up heartbroken and seeing her grandchildren’s hearts crushed from losing their mother was unbearable.
Leslie reflects on her own childhood struggles: “With my mother passing when I was younger, I didn’t have anyone to turn to when things got so hard. I made sure to make ends meet, but there were times it never did.”
The inspiration for the pantry came from a simple, powerful act of kindness.
“One hot day, my grandson asked to buy a bottle of water, and my other grandson a snack, for a man sitting outside,” Leslie said. “When the man said, ‘God bless you — I was thirsty and hungry,’ my grandsons turned to me and asked, ‘Lela, can we always help people who don’t have food?’ That question became our mission. Watching my grandchildren being so kind to people who are hungry brought me back to those hard days — it reminded me of my own struggles and inspired me to help others. Our pain gave us purpose,” Martinez says.
“And that purpose is to help others heal, to feed those in need, and to remind every grieving heart that they are not alone,” she said.
Through the group meetings, Martinez identified a need for many of the families she met. They were facing food insecurity and she responded with pop-up food pantries. The new permanent location for the food pantry is opening this month. She learned a lot with pop-up food pantries she opened for families she has met through the support group. The new pantry, located in the gymnasium of the church, will initially be open Tuesdays from 10am-1pm.
“There are a lot of youth out there that are quietly suffering. They don’t have anyone to turn to. They are welcome to get food, whatever they need to eat and get warm. Some are young adults who are homeless. We expect to expand our offerings, but want to start off being open once a week and be consistent. No one is turned away from our pantry. I do not want anyone to feel embarrassed by accepting help. Our goal is to ensure that no one goes hungry, while continuing to provide emotional and educational support to those in need.”
One of the recipients of food for her family is Selene Morton. She shared, “I am especially thankful for the care and compassion shown by Leslie Martinez. Her kindness and willingness to go above and beyond made a lasting impact on me and my family. During a difficult time for us, Leslie and the Grieving Youth and Family team showed generosity which allowed us to have food on our table when we truly needed it the most,” she said.
In addition to donated space for the support sessions, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church has provided two garden beds for Grieving Youth and Families of the Merrimack Valley. The gardens offer a peaceful space where youth and families can plant and grow together — finding calm, reflection and healing through nature.
“Together, we are building a community grounded in love, compassion, and hope — reminding everyone that no one should ever have to grieve alone,” Martinez said.
The organization recently earned their 501(c)3 non-profit status, and primarily are funded by individual donations. To find out more, contact GYFMV978@yahoo.com or visit The Grieving Youth and Families of the Merrimack Valley on Facebook.
Selene Morton and her son Jaziah appreciate the help they’ve received from the nonprofit Grieving Youth and Families, which offers support and resources.
