Community remembers lost loved ones at Walk of Remembrance

Saturday morning many honored loved ones who passed away at a walk of remembrance at Civic Center Park in Palm Desert.

Participants could remember lost children, family members or friends by signing and writing messages on paper hearts to their loved ones.

Umbrella Ministries hosted the second annual event featuring a two mile walk, dove release ceremony and donation drive.

The organization started in 1996 and helps grieving families and mothers with conferences and retreats across the country as well as in Africa.

“It just does them wonders, we get letters telling us it saved their lives,” said director and co-founder Daisy Catchings Shader.

Umbrella Ministries is raising funds to send mothers to a three-day conference in May.

Catchings-Shader says there are more than 400 mothers in the Coachella Valley that have lost children.