Tami Osterhaut introduces the community to a worldwide network of hope
By Andrew Harris, pictured is the new Belvidere Wind Phone
Many of us have lost loved ones and struggled with the grief of losing someone important, especially if you didn’t get to say goodbye. In 2010 in Japan a tragedy gave birth to a new idea, a Wind Phone, which is at face value is a disconnected telephone. It could be in a phone booth like the original or could be more like a stand alone kiosk with a phone inside. Wind Phone’s can be found in random locations around the world, often placed in areas where visitors can find some privacy and a quiet moment. The founders of My Wind Phone, which connects the network of different phones across the globe, explains the intention:
“Visitors are invited to pick up the receiver, dial a number, and speak with the one they miss. It is a place where grief is welcomed without judgment, where love is spoken freely, and where memories can breathe. Above all, the Wind Phone represents hope: the gentle, enduring hope that love continues, that connection remains, and that even death does not truly separate us“
Tami Osterhaut found a Wind Phone in her travels and after using it, realized it was worth sharing with Allegany County. She explains more about why she decided to pursue this project:
I recently registered a Wind Phone online. For anyone who does not know what a Wind Phone is, it is an opportunity for anyone grieving a loved one. It gives anyone a chance to say anything left unsaid, it is for the goodbyes that didn’t happen and a connection that is private. Why do Wind Phones matter? Because grief doesn’t follow a timeline. A Wind Phone gives you permission to speak, feel, and remember whenever your heart needs it. Love doesn’t end when people pass, Wind Phones create moments of connections, reflection and remembrance. This phone is the first for Allegany County with 436 registered throughout the US. You can find them all at mywindphone.com.
This phone is dedicated to Justin Norton.
To access the Wind Phone, “Parking is available in front of the Belvidere Cornerstone. Walk between the old church and the cemetery to the back of the property. It is located between the church building and the cemetery, towards the back of the property.”
Directions to the Wind Phone in Belvidere NY
Learn more about Wind Phones and the network bringing people together: https://www.mywindphone.com
