Kara Information

As a nonprofit organization serving the San Francisco Bay Area since 1976, Kara provides comprehensive grief support, crisis response and education to individuals and communities facing the difficult realities of death and dying. Serving over 5,000 individuals annually, Kara’s mission is to provide grief support for children, teens, families and adults. Our vision is to see people of all ages compassionately supported on their journey through grief so they can move toward renewed hope and meaning. Our agency name conveys a real connection between care and grief. In his book, Out of Solitude, Henry Nouwen wrote: Real care is not ambiguous. Real care excludes indifference and is the opposite of apathy. The word "care" finds its roots in the gothic "Kara" which means lament. Our services are provided primarily by over 100 trained volunteers who have experience in healing from personal loss. With the aid of professional staff and ongoing training, Kara's volunteers facilitate others' journeys during life-threatening illness and bereavement. We are supported primarily by tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations and foundations.