By Denali Tietjen Boston Globe
Running shoes left at the makeshift memorial following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, in an exhibit titled “Dear Boston: Messages from the Marathon Memorial” at the Boston Public Library Credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder
The State of Massachusetts is partnering with Boston Medical Center (BMC) and the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) to open a free support center for victims of last year’s Boston Marathon bombings, state officials announced Wednesday.
Funded by a $1.9 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, the Massachusetts Resiliency Center will serve as a supportive community for people impacted by last year’s marathon bombings, such as those who were injured, friends and family members of survivors, first responders, as well as the general public.
The center, which is due to open at BMC in August, will provide services for those dealing with physical and emotional trauma by connecting survivors to one another, referring victims to therapy centers in their area, and hosting therapy and training sessions.
“Survivors of the Boston Marathon attacks have demonstrated a great strength,” Attorney General Martha Coakely said in a press release announcing the center. “We can’t change what happened but we can give them what they need to support their own resiliency. By implementing a host of coordinated programs and services, this center will be able to address the unique individual needs of survivors in the near and long term.”
To ensure all victims receive help, the center will also provide a series of online webinars and video consultation for non-local victims. Marathon victims live in over 30 states and five countries, the press release noted.
The two pressure cooker bombs that exploded at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon killed three people and injured more than 260 others. Hundreds of others suffer from post-traumatic stress and other emotional problems.
