Life briefs: NAMI and SWCD awards, benefit golf outing, Autumn Fiber Festival and more
NAMI chapter presents awards during annual dinner
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Richland County held an annual dinner Aug. 3 at Kingwood Center Gardens. The keynote speaker was Cleveland journalist Loree Vick, who shared her story of turning pain into purpose after the loss her husband to suicide in 2005.
Four special awards were announced during the event.
NAMI Community Impact Award was given to Jeff and Donna Heck and 33 Forever Inc. for their impact over the last 4 years in decreasing the stigma of mental illness across Ohio.
NAMI Excellence in Clinical Service Award presented to Erin Schaefer, LPCC-S, IMFT-S, who served for 25 years at Catalyst Life Services.
Officer Brian Evans Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Award was given to Lt. Stacie Garrick of the Mansfield Police Department for her many efforts to safely get individuals who are suicidal or in crisis to the help they need.
The Roeliff Brinkerhoff Award was also presented to Jeff and Donna Heck for their commitment to mental health awareness, advocacy and education.
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District honors Volunteer of the Year
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) recently held a volunteer appreciation picnic at Malabar Farm. In addition to the picnic, Richland SWCD recognizes one volunteer each year who provides exemplary support to the district. This year’s recipient is Leonard N. Fox of Shelby.
To recognize Leonard’s dedication to the district, a black gum tree will be planted at 10 a.m. on Aug. 24 at Seltzer Park in Shelby near the park’s gazebo. Leonard will also be recognized at the annual celebration on Sept. 7 at the Kehoe Center in Shelby. The public is welcome to attend both events.
Leonard has been volunteering with Richland SWCD since 2016. He supports the district as a precipitation monitor and reports his findings on the Richland SWCD website, which helps others in the county make gardening, farming and conservation decisions. Leonard spends time planting and collecting milkweed seeds each year and donates them to the district in the fall as part of the county-wide milkweed seed pod collection. The seeds are removed from the pods and distributed the following year to be planted.
In addition to volunteering with Richland SWCD, Leonard also volunteers with the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce and is involved with the Knights of Columbus.
Visit the website or call 419-747-8685 to learn about volunteer opportunities and services provided by Richland SWCD.
Golf outing to benefit Unstoppables Youth Sports League
BELLVILLE — The Unstoppables Youth Sports League will be the beneficiary of the second annual Jeff Ellington Pay Forward Golf Outing on Sept. 7 at Deer Ridge Golf Club. Unstoppables is a Bellville-based nonprofit that allows children with special needs to participate in sports alongside their typical peers.
Ellington was a Mansfield native known for bringing people together and giving to those in need. After he died from kidney cancer in 2020, his friends founded the golf outing in his memory.
Unstoppables currently serves 97 children across five counties. Since its inception in 2018, the league has grown to include baseball, basketball and soccer seasons. Funds raised during the golf outing will go towards Unstoppables’ operating expenses since the league is completely free for children and their families.
Last year’s inaugural golf outing brought together 72 golfers and raised $10,000 for Hope for Hilltribes, an organization that provides aid to ethnic minorities in Thailand.
This year golfers will have the chance to win various prizes including first, second and third place trophies; front nine closest to the pin; back nine closest to the pin; longest drive; shortest drive; longest putt and hole in one.
The Jeff Ellington Pay Forward Golf Outing is still accepting registrations, sponsorships and donations for auction items. To register, sponsor or donate, visit ellingtongolf.com.
Autumn Fiber Festival to be held in October
Fiber art in all its forms will be featured during the 10th annual Autumn Fiber Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 21 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 22 in the Arts and Crafts Building at the Richland County Fairgrounds.
The Autumn Fiber Festival brings together local fiber producers, craftspeople and fiber artists to sell their fiber-related wares and hand-crafted items. Visitors will have the opportunity to watch spinners transform raw fiber into yarn, weavers create cloth and needle felters create many different kinds of objects. Visitors can view rug-hooking, knitting, crocheting, Tunisian crochet, punch needle, needlework and rug braiding as well.
Various types of fiber animals will be on display including alpacas, llamas, Angora goats, and Bluefaced and Longwool Leicester sheep.
Raffle tickets will be available to purchase for baskets of fiber treasures that vendors have donated. Proceeds will be shared with the Richland County Junior Fair Alpacas group that assists with the event and Matthew 25 Outreach Center.
Parking and admission are free. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Lucas announces free and reduced meal program
The Lucas Local School District has announced its 2023-2024 program year policy for free and reduced meals for students unable to pay the full price of meals or milk served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast program. Each school office and the central office has a copy of the policy.
Children from families whose annual income is at or below the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines are eligible for free and reduced-price meals or free milk if the school participates in the Special Milk Program.
Application forms are distributed to all homes in a letter to parents or guardians. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office in each school.
Families with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio’s Healthy Start & Healthy Families programs. Call 1-800-324-8680 for more information or to request an application. Information can also be found at jfs.ohio.gov.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield NAMI awards, SWCD volunteer award, golf outing,
