Connecting Through Grief
PRESTON'S CHARM GRIEF KIT
Preston's Charm's mission is to support those who have lost a loved one, offering empathy and understanding.
Managing Grief and moving forward
Preston's Charm Mission and Goals
Our Mission
Our mission is to create a compassionate and supportive environment for individuals, families, and communities who are navigating the complexities of grief. We are dedicated to empowering those affected by loss to find meaning, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose through personalized support, education, and community engagement.
We believe that grief is not a problem to be solved, but a journey to be witnessed and respected. Our approach rests on the conviction that every person’s experience of loss is unique, deserving of attentive care and understanding. By fostering connection, providing resources, and advocating for open conversations around grief, we strive to promote healing and growth for all who are touched by loss. Grief is a universal human experience, woven into the very fabric of our existence. It arrives unbidden, sometimes gently and sometimes with the force of a storm, sweeping through our hearts and minds, rearranging our sense of what is real and possible. To manage grief is not to conquer it, suppress it, or hasten it away, but rather to honor its presence, to learn from its depths, and to support those who encounter its difficult terrain. In this spirit, we offer a mission statement for managing grief—a living document of compassion, empathy, and hope.
Core Values
· Compassion: Kindness, sensitivity, and an open heart, recognizing the vulnerability that grief brings.
· Respect: Diversity of grief experiences, cultures, beliefs, and traditions.
· Empathy: Listen deeply and without judgment, validating each person’s feelings and responses to loss.
· Integrity: Honest, reliable information and resources.
· Community: Foster connections for those who grieve, creating space for sharing, remembrance, and support.
· Education: Provide education on grief and bereavement to empower individuals and communities.
· Resilience: Encourage hope and healing, help individuals build coping skills and find meaning in loss.
*If you feel depressed and are struggling with grief, please seek professional help
*Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, please call or text 988
*If you are in a crisis, please dial 911
The Making of Preston's Charm
Two years after the loss of her son, Preston Bailey Hancock, Bridget realized that conventional therapy did not provide adequate support for her experience with grief. As a result, she established "Preston's Charm" in 2019 as an alternative method for healing.
Preston's Charm offered Bridget a way to process her loss and manage grief through the art of making charms. She initially created ten charms in Preston’s memory, keeping one and sharing the remainder with family and friends. When Bridget started receiving emails about the charms that were found, she realized from those messages and the connections they brought that this would become a significant part of her healing journey. Bridget placed additional charms in various public locations and also offered charms to friends and family that were traveling. These charms were left in locations including walking trails, campgrounds, BPOE Elks Lodges, hiking trails, parks, Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts, and American Legion Posts. and just about anywhere else you could imagine.
Individuals who found or received Preston’s Charm contacted Bridget by email, sending photographs, providing discovery locations, offering condolences, and some shared their own grief journey. Many people shared how Preston's charm influenced their experiences.
There are now thousands of Preston's Charms worldwide, located across all fifty U.S. states, twenty-four countries, and four islands.
Additional information and comments from individuals who have used Preston’s Charm Grief Kits can be found on the Testimonial Page.
Inspiration for Preston's Charm Grief Kit
- Grief is a journey that winds through shadow and light, often with no guide but the memories of what once was. For Bridget creating a charm grief kit became both a tribute and a process of gentle restoration—a way to honor loss while nurturing the fragile shoots of hope.
- Preston’s charm grief kit, weaves together sources of comfort, symbols of healing, and a tender approach to moving forward through sorrow.
- Inspiration for such a kit comes from the recognition that tangible objects can hold intangible meanings. A small token gripped in the palm, a whispered wish, a scent that calls forth a memory—these are the charms that bridge worlds. Preston’s Charm kit is, at its heart, an invitation: to hold one’s grief, not as an enemy to battle, but as a companion to be gently acknowledged.
- For Bridget, the inspiration began with a deeply personal loss. Preston’s story might echo with the ache of losing a loved one—a family member, a friend, or even a beloved pet. In the aftermath, there is often a yearning to do something with the pain, to create a vessel for remembrance that feels both meaningful and manageable.
A Unique and Special Gift
Each charm can represent a memory, a hope, or an aspect of the loved one’s spirit. Perhaps a silver feather for lightness and freedom, a tiny heart for enduring love, a key for the unlocking of new paths, or a star to symbolize guidance in dark times. These objects become physical anchors in the storm of emotion, reminders that connection endures even when presence is lost.
Connecting thru grief and the charm
Passing Your Loved One’s Charm
Keep one of your Loved One's Charms as a personal keepsake, and share the others with family, friends, or anyone grieving their loss. You could also place a Charm in a meaningful spot, like a favorite restaurant, community center, historical landmark, garden, museum, memorial, park, or any place that holds special memories. Consider choosing locations that bring comfort or encourage meaningful connections.
Picture the Charm as a symbol of your loved one’s presence, joining recipients on their adventures—whether it’s cheering at sports events, enjoying concerts, or exploring exciting new destinations. Experience the profound sense of connection and comfort that countless others have found by sharing the Charm with both loved ones and strangers alike.
A Glimpse into Preston's Charm
Hogan Hilling
"Passing Your Loved One's Charm"
On December 26, 2021, while traveling across the United States in his RV, Hogan received Preston's Charm from Tammy and Junior Adams during a visit to an Elks Lodge in Key West, Florida. Tammy and Junior had discovered Preston's Charm five months earlier at the VFW in Deadwood, South Dakota, where it was left by Jeff M., a friend of Bridget.
One year after receiving Preston’s Charm, Hogan experienced the loss of his son, Wesley Jordan Hilling, who passed away at the age of 32 due to medical complications from Angelman Syndrome.
Let’s Talk Grief Tour Across America
Hogan will begin a “Let’s Talk Grief” Tour Across America in mid-March.
If you’d like to know more about the “Let’s Talk Grief” Tour, email Hogan at hoganhilling@yahoo.com
Ashley K.
Seattle resident Ashley K. traveled with Preston’s Charm to Wisconsin to attend a wedding with it. At the reception, she shared Preston’s Charm story with the bride and groom and asked them to take a photo with it.
Mark L.
Mark L., found Preston’s Charm at Dolores Point in Colorado. It is a popular tourist destination. After Mark picked it up near a historic cabin, he attached it to the passenger side of the plane that he owns. Now Preston's Charm travels with him wherever he flies.
Charlie L.
Army Sergeant Charlie L., traveled with Preston’s charm to Iraq and raised it along with the American flag on the tallest flagpole in the Middle East.
Emilee W.
Emilee W. attached Preston’s Charm to her backpack and finished the last 800 miles of the AZ Trail with it by her side. Then she left it on the northern terminus of the Arizona Trail for another person to find it.
Mark O.
Mark O., carried Preston's Charm with him during an off-road snowmobile adventure along the continental divide and then to Whitefish, Montana.
Brice B.
Brice B., Army MP, found Preston’s Charm while elk hunting in Happy Jack, Arizona. He kept it with him during his hunt and killed and tagged a bull elk.
Testimonials of our charm-ing family
Corey T.
I received Preston's Charm from Hogan. Preston’s Charm has made me feel better and it has brought me good luck. My daughter accidentally threw away an envelope with a fifty-dollar bill. I went down to look through the nasty dumpster full of trash. It was sticking out like a sore thumb it was amazing how fast I found an envelope in a full-size dumpster. Thanks, Preston for helping me find it. I will hold on to Preston’s Charm and tell the story for a while until my healing process gets a little easier. When I come across the right person I will pass it on.
Corey T. lost two of his children. His daughter, Autumn was 3 months old when she passed of medical complications. Eleven years later on March 7, 2022, his oldest son, Corey Jr. was 20 years old when he passed from a fentanyl overdose.
Shirley W.
I received Preston's Charm from Hogan. I am deeply touched by the tribute you made to your son by passing these charms out for people from all over to know and remember him. Your idea of a traveling remembrance for your son, Preston, is such a heartwarming idea. Carrying Preston’s Charm has been very comforting. I carry it with me in my wallet (alongside my rosary beads) until I find the space or the person worthy to receive it. I think about him and Bridget often.
Shirley W.’s son, Logan, passed of medical complications a few days before his 28th birthday in 2017.
Charlie L.
Thank you Bridget for sending me Preston's Charm. Preston’s Charm represents more than just a remembrance. It has a much deeper impact on me that is truly unexplainable. It touches my soul and gives me hope that Preston is out there enjoying all of these places. It gives me a sliver of connection and hope. It also brings comfort and healing.
Charlie L. is a military veteran of 7 years. He served with Preston. Charlie left the military in 2018 shortly after Preston's passing.
Gail H.
I received Preston's Charm from Hogan. I'm sure Preston is proud of your sweet way of keeping people aware of who he is. I have held on to Preston’s Charm because I also lost my son. Mont IV, at an early age, and there was just something about Preston's Charm that I needed. I have a picture on my dressing table of Mont IV. I have placed Preston's Charm on the corner of his picture frame. I see them every time I sit down and throughout the day.
Gail and Dr. Mont H.’s son, Mont IV, was murdered in January 2004. His case is still unsolved. Dr. Mont and Gail H. have been married for 60 years. Dr. Mont served in the Air Force at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery and opened a family medical practice.
Scott H.
I found Preston’s Charm hanging on a tree branch at the Whitefish Bike Retreat where I was participating in multiple 40-mile days between campsites After I read the messages on Preston’s Charm, I thought about the friends I'd lost because Preston and I were the same age. I immediately felt connected to Preston and wanted to keep his spirit alive with me. It felt like I was meant to find it, and that felt like something I should reflect on and honor. I think it's a special bond to share, and I'm honored to have been made a part of it. What a good reminder Preston's charm is that no one is ever truly gone and that our energy remains as our memories are shared. I attached the charm to my handlebars, and he rode with me during the multiple 40-mile days between campsites.
Scott H. is a former pet shop owner. He works as a software engineer. He and his partner, Dena, enjoy biking around Portland and other areas in the USA. They are avid gardeners and enjoy spending time on DIY projects.
Jolie H.
As I learned more about how Bridget channeled her grief through creating Preston’s Charm it made me realize there are ways to include happiness in your grief that are everlasting. I also realized that staying positive, regardless of how small these moments are will keep Jon’s spirit and legacy alive.
Learning more about Preston’s Charm and its journey inspired me to enroll my golden retriever, Finley, and me in a dog therapy program.
After Finley and I graduate, I look forward to choosing an organization where we can share smiles and joy with people, young and old alike who need help. Connecting with Bridget and Hogan has been a Godsend. Through this luck, I’ve found inspiration and friendship in two great people! Thank you, Bridget, for making Jonathon’s Charm Grief Kit for me!
Jolie H. is the mother of Army Sergeant Jon H. who passed away on April 12, 2020, by suicide
Preston's Charm Store
Custom Charms hand made by Bridget
Each Charm includes a photograph of your loved one, along with birth and angelversary dates, and a selected poem or quote. These elements are laminated and affixed to beads or jewelry pieces. On the reverse side, the Charm provides instructions for individuals who may find it, as well as your email address, enabling them to contact you and share the Charm’s journey.
We will reach out to the provided email address or phone number within 24 hours to gather essential information for your Charms, including nicknames, insignia, awareness groups, and relevant numbers (such as 988). We are committed to accommodating these preferences to the best of our ability.
Disclosure: Original photograph copyrights remain with the photographer; Preston’s Charm Grief Kit holds copyright only for the charm design. By purchasing, you grant permission to print your provided photo on the charm.
A draft of the charm design will be sent for your approval prior to creation.
Preston's Charm Book $20.99
"Preston's Charm:
A Charm-ing, Healthy, and Empathic Approach to Grief"
Now available for $20.99 in the Simon and Schuster and Archway Publishing Store
or
on Amazon and in bookstores.
Bridget, struggling to cope with the loss of her son Preston Bailey Hancock after a car accident, found traditional grief methods unhelpful. Realizing destructive habits were affecting her relationships, she turned to crafting as a healthier outlet. In 2019, Bridget created "Preston’s Charm," jewelry pieces distributed with Preston’s photo and a poem, encouraging empathy and remembrance. Over four years, more than 1,000 charms have traveled across the US and around the world, helping both Bridget’s family and others process their grief. Stories from recipients are shared in this book.