Matthew’s Milk & Cookies began in May 2018 to commemorate the opening of Matthew’s Garden, created in loving memory of Matthew Bishop Gray, for the children of Bo’s Place.
Matthew’s Garden is a special place at Bo’s Place; a garden created as a memorial for a young boy named Matthew Gray who died suddenly in 2016. His family was part of the planning to make sure the garden was full of images, objects, and plants that represent things that Matthew loved.
Participants in our groups use the garden when discussing memorials to recognize how memorials can be large and grand as the Washington monument or as small and personal as a small garden planted to the remember their person who died.
The garden is also used by our younger groups to help them understand life and death. The younger children will gather in Matthew’s Garden and observe plants, leaves and insects that are alive and some that are dead to help lay the foundation of their understanding of life and death.
And now, each year in May, Bo’s Place families enjoy Matthew’s favorite snacks of milk and cookies, now ice cream and cookies. For the past several years, members of the National Charity League have generously provided the treats for this special day.
Through the garden and this annual tradition, we honor Matthew’s memory and hold space for remembrance and inspiration for those who come to Bo’s Place.
