When families gather around the dinner table, there is always a plate. Plates are passed, meals are shared, and memories are made. But when someone dies, that table can feel different. There may be one less plate and an empty seat that quietly reminds us of who is missing.
At The WARM Place, we understand that absence. We create space for it, while also reminding families that the love they shared with someone does not disappear. Walk into our kitchen and dining areas, and you’ll see plates lining the walls. Each one is decorated by a child in memory of someone they love. Some feature favorite colors, hobbies, or symbols. Others are simple and quiet. But every plate tells a story.
This tradition began in 2003, when children first decorated ceramic plates in honor of their loved ones. More than two decades later, those plates remain an important part of The WARM Place, joined by new plates created by children and families. One of those plates belongs to WARM Place Board Member Keirah Burrell, who first came to The WARM Place as a child. At 16, Keirah painted a blue plate featuring a crescent moon, stars, and a small cloud. “I think it reflected a darker chapter of my journey at the time,” she shared. “It’s nice to know I’m back in the light.”
Years later, Keirah returned to The WARM Place as a facilitator. Her plate became more than a reminder of the person she lost. It became a connection point with the children and families she now serves.
“I hope it helps kids see themselves through my story and feel a little more at ease on their first night.”
Keirah’s story reflects something we see every day at The WARM Place: children grow, but the love they carry for their loved ones remains. Their experiences become part of their stories, and sometimes, the places and people who helped them through grief become part of those stories, too.
In 2023, as The WARM Place expanded to serve even more families, every plate was carefully packed away and preserved. When our doors reopened that fall, the tradition continued. During the first family night of 2023, children once again gathered to create plates honoring the people they love hat would later be placed in our newly renovated space.
Today, those plates fill our kitchen and dining areas with color, memories, and stories. For the children who created them, seeing their artwork each week can be a powerful reminder: their loved one is remembered, their grief has a place, and their story matters.
Nearly 23 years after the first plates were created, their message remains the same.
You are remembered. Your loved one is remembered. Always.
The next time you visit The WARM Place, take a moment to look around. Behind every plate is a story, a memory, and a love that continues to shine.
