Bluffton, South Carolina resident Kendra Stearns Drozd is encouraging communities to prioritize emotional support, active listening, and human connection for people facing grief, illness, infertility, and major life challenges.
BLUFFTON, SC / ACCESS Newswire / May 25, 2026 / Kendra Stearns Drozd is speaking out about the importance of emotional and spiritual support during some of life’s hardest moments, using her own experiences with infertility, miscarriage, caregiving, and community service to encourage more compassion and connection.
Drozd, a former advertising executive, brand manager, and executive recruiter, has spent more than a decade serving as a commissioned Stephen Minister. In that role, she provides confidential one-on-one support to people dealing with grief, illness, divorce, loneliness, and personal crises.
She says the growing mental health and loneliness crisis in America makes human connection more important than ever.
“People are carrying so much privately,” Drozd said. “Sometimes what they need most is not someone trying to fix them. They need someone willing to sit with them, listen to them, and walk beside them without judgment.”
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of premature death by nearly 30%. Research from the American Psychological Association also shows that chronic emotional stress can contribute to anxiety, depression, heart disease, and weakened immune function.
At the same time, many Americans say they lack meaningful emotional support systems. A 2024 Gallup survey found that nearly 1 in 5 adults frequently feel lonely or disconnected from others.
Drozd believes communities can help address that problem through small but intentional acts of support.
“You do not have to be a therapist to care for someone,” she said. “You can check in on a friend. You can listen instead of trying to give advice. You can make someone feel less alone.”
Her advocacy is deeply personal. After experiencing six miscarriages and multiple rounds of IVF before the birth of her youngest daughter, Drozd says she understands firsthand how isolating emotional pain can become.
“There were people who carried me through those years simply by showing up,” she said. “That changed me. It made me want to give that same kind of support back to others.”
Since becoming a Stephen Minister in 2012, Drozd has supported individuals facing breast cancer, divorce, financial hardship, grief, abuse, and family struggles. She says one of the biggest lessons she has learned is the power of consistency and presence.
“We live in a culture that moves fast,” Drozd said. “But healing usually happens slowly. Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do is continue showing up for someone over time.”
Mental health experts increasingly agree that consistent social support improves emotional resilience and long-term well-being. Studies published by the National Institutes of Health have shown that strong personal relationships can reduce stress levels and improve both mental and physical health outcomes.
Drozd also hopes to encourage more open conversations around infertility and pregnancy loss, topics she believes are still misunderstood or hidden in many communities.
“So many women suffer quietly because they think they are supposed to keep going and pretend everything is fine,” she said. “We need to normalize compassion and honest conversations around loss.”
Beyond her ministry work, Drozd encourages people to build stronger local relationships through volunteerism, faith communities, neighborhood involvement, and simple daily connections.
“Real support starts with ordinary people,” she said. “You do not need a title or training to make someone’s life better. You just need empathy and consistency.”
What People Can Do
Drozd encourages people to take small but meaningful steps to support others in their own communities:
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Check in regularly with friends or family members going through difficult times
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Listen without interrupting or immediately offering solutions
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Volunteer with local support organizations or community groups
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Reach out to someone who may be isolated or grieving
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Be open about mental health, infertility, grief, and emotional struggles
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Prioritize in-person connection and meaningful conversations
“People remember how you made them feel during the hardest seasons of their lives,” Drozd said. “Even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.”
About Kendra Stearns Drozd
Kendra Stearns Drozd is a former advertising executive, consumer brand manager, and executive recruiter based in Bluffton, South Carolina. A graduate of Williams College and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, she has worked in advertising, consumer packaged goods marketing, and recruiting. She has served as a commissioned Stephen Minister since 2012 and is an advocate for emotional support, community connection, and compassionate caregiving.
Media Contact:
https://www.kendrastearnsdrozd.com/
info@kendrastearnsdrozd.com
SOURCE: Kendra Stearns Drozd
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