Resources
The loss of a child brings challenges that can be very overwhelming.
BTF is pleased to have engaged the following
services & professionals as resources to our families:
Like-Hearted Fundraising
Partnered with gofundme
The Brandon Tolson Foundation provides, Like-Hearted Fundraising, thirty (30) days of gross dollar fundraising for our families in need. For information, contact Pam Long at pam@brandontsolsonfoundation.org.
Gilchrist Grief Counseling
Gilchrist offers grief counseling services to anyone in the community who has experienced a loss and is a resource to our families as they navigate their grief journey. After a child dies, you may feel lost and overwhelmed. At the same time, you may struggle with sadness, intense emotional pain and even anger. Gilchrist’s master’s prepared clinical counselors offer one-on-one counseling that can help guide you through your own unique stages of grief—leading you to a life that is different but still rich in meaning. Working with a counselor one-on-one can help you sort out your emotions and navigate your grief journey. Gilchrist also offers grief support groups, workshops, remembrance events and grief resources. Our counselors have expertise in the loss of a child and are recognized by the Association for Death Education and Counseling for competence in bereavement. To learn more or request grief support, contact Gilchrist’s care navigators at 888.823.8880 or visit www.gilchristcares.org/grief and please be sure to mention you are a BTF family.
BTF Grandparents
Chaired by Mickey Heyl, Brandon’s Gram
BTF Grandparents, our Grandparents Group, is designed to bring together the Grandparents for the families we serve. Within this group, Grandparents feel the bond and enjoy each other’s company. While they share their losses, they also find themselves laughing which surprised them all. Members get together in a variety of ways where and how they feel comfortable. Our closed Facebook group provides members the ability to speak freely about their grief and struggles.
“As Grandparents we deal with double loss – the loss our children are going through and our grief for the loss of our Grandchild. We welcome all Grandparents who feel they need this understanding.” – Mickey
Grandparents of our families can join the group simply reach out to Mickey on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mickey.heyl or via at mickey@brandontolsonfoundation.org. She will then invite them to join the closed Facebook group and keep them abreast of their get togethers.
Highview Funeral Home
Rebecca Orr & Steve Coster
Nestled on 80 beautiful acres, Highview is Harford County’s only funeral home, crematory and memorial garden all in one convenient location.
Offering the compassion, attentiveness and affordability that comes with choosing a family owned and operated provider, Highview gives you the peace of mind in knowing that everything is taken care of.
Whether you have experienced a loss or are interested in preplanning, let us help guide you through the options available for you and your family. Together, we will make sure every detail is covered.
Phone: 410-941-5492
Rebecca Orr – rebecca@highviewfuneralservice.com
Steve Coster – steve@highviewfuneralservice.com
Funeral Services Advisor
Doug Restrick
We are pleased to announce we have engaged Doug Restrick as our Funeral Service Advisor to help serve our families. Planning your child’s funeral is extremely difficult and it can be a very confusing process for our families with so many options available. Following a life-long service oriented career in non-profit, for-profit, faith-based, health care & government entities, Doug continues to serve his community as an elder care and family advisor and is a funeral celebrant. He will join us when meeting with our families to help guide them through this process.
410-937-8366
dprestrick@gmail.com
Derek Hopkins, the Register of Wills for Harford County, is a resource to help our families navigate the process of opening their child’s estate.
Register of Wills for Harford Co
Derek Hopkins
The Honorable Derek K. Hopkins was sworn into office as the Register of Wills for Harford County on the evening of November 30, 2010 and started on December 1, 2010. The Hopkins family has lived in Harford County for generations. Derek is married to Katrina Hopkins and they have two children, Tim and Emma.
Prior to Derek becoming Register of Wills he was a full time auctioneer, estate appraiser, and a third generation real estate agent, who has focused on estate services. Derek is a graduate of North Harford High School, where he served in the FFA and as Maryland State FFA Vice President. After high school he attended Virginia Tech with a focus on business management, and worked in the Swine Research Center. Derek is a graduate of the Missouri Auction School, Kansas City, MO. He also is a graduate of the three-year Certified Auctioneer Institute at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
Hopkins is a past 4-H member, and has been an active volunteer in 4-H for years. He joined the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company at the age of 16, where he served as a firefighter and EMS member. After buying a home in Pylesville, he joined the Whiteford Volunteer Fire Company, where he is an active firefighter, EMS driver, and past president of the company. Derek has served in many other roles at the company as well. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he was sent by FEMA to be deployed to Mississippi where he served over a month helping the citizens of the gulf coast. Derek has also served on a number of other community groups. He is a member of Harford County’s Agricultural Advisory Board and is passionate about saving the agricultural industry.
Derek grew up on the Hopkins Family farm in Darlington, where he says he learned his hard work ethic from his great-grandmother, Hazel Hopkins, and grandfather, Harry G. Hopkins. The family farm is now in farm preservation. Derek resides in Pylesville with his wife Katrina, who has worked for the State of Maryland’s Court System for over 12 years. The family spends a lot of time now working on their small farm, where they have dairy goats, beef cattle, and chickens. 4-H is a big part of their family life and it allows them to spend a lot of family time together.
410-638-3275
dhopkins@registers.maryland.gov
Mutual Fire Insurance Building
18 Office Street – 1st Floor
Bel Air, Maryland 21014