More Giving Tuesday donors supporting organizations involved in mental-health work

When Anne McKiterick heard about a new flavor of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, she knew she had to reach out to the Columbus-based company about a potential partnership.

McKiterick is an advancement officer for OhioGuidestone, a statewide nonprofit organization that supports people with mental health or substance abuse issues.

The flavor, introduced in May 2020 in the dark early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, was called Sunshine. The ice cream (now sold out) was gray, but the dull color hid a burst of tropical and citrusy flavor.

It was designed, founder Jeni Britton said at the time, to draw attention to mental health issues. The idea was that even when things look gray, the sun will shine again.

“I was so excited to see that, so I reached out (to Jeni’s),” McKiterick said, “and I was delighted that they got right back to us.”

McKiterick at first thought OhioGuidestone and Jeni’s could collaborate on a new flavor. After finding out a flavor can take a year to develop, thoughts turned to a more conventional partnership.

Tuesday was the 10th annual Giving Tuesday, and all Jeni’s scoop shops in Ohio donated 25% of their proceeds to OhioGuidestone. That added up to $2,014.03.

“OhioGuidestone has such a positive impact on the day-to-day lives of the people around us,” Britton said in a news release. “We are so happy to support them in their mission to expand mental health services in Ohio.”

The fact that a well-known brand such as Jeni’s chose to support a mental-health organization speaks to the growing awareness and support of behavioral-health issues as the pandemic nears the two-year mark.

Arian May, director of advancement for Berea-based OhioGuidestone, said the state’s recent rise in deaths by suicide and drug overdoses illustrates the fact that more people are hurting.

Prior coverage: As feared, Ohio smashes record for drug overdose deaths last year

That has led to a strain on groups that support people in need of counseling or other therapies.

“People are struggling and we have never had a need this great,” May said. “We don’t want there to be anyone who is brave enough to say they need help to go without help.”

Michael Corey, executive director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, said he has “certainly noticed additional attention and awareness of mental health and behavioral challenges, and of the agencies that are trying to meet those needs.”

Corey, whose group includes about 130 nonprofits, said some of whatever donations came in to organizations on Tuesday could be used to support not only the public, but also staffers in need.

Many who work in mental health fields or places such as food pantries or shelters for the unhoused or abused have been traumatized by the suffering they have seen in the pandemic, he said.

Related coverage: Central Ohio hospitals focus on caring for the caregivers amid COVID-19

“Without question, we’ve been trying to support our members on this front,” Corey said. “It’s a workforce challenge, a quality of life challenge.

“Folks are thinking as much as they ever have about supporting their teams. I use the adage of putting on your oxygen mask before you can put one on somebody else.”

Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 and has spread to more than 300 community campaigns nationally and into more than 80 countries, according to the group’s website.

The website said that in 2020 in the United States alone, Giving Tuesday netted more than $2.47 billion.

There is no centralized accounting for what was raised Tuesday in Greater Columbus. The Columbus Foundation does not keep a local tally, but it does encourage donors to visit its Giving Store on that day, which features more than 1,200 organizations in need.

“We’ve seen over the course of a decade that Giving Tuesday has inspired continued generosity,” said Dan Sharpe, the foundation’s vice president for community research and grants management. “It’s wonderful to see donors learn about needs that organizations have that are close to their heart, but also the public is able to learn about organizations that might be new to them.”

Among the county Human Service Chamber's groups reporting its donation totals Tuesday, one notable figure was $480,000 raised by the Harmony Project, a choir founded in 2009 and focused on community service. According to chief operating officer Shelly Lewis, that was the most money the choir has raised in a campaign.

OhioGuidestone didn't raise $480,000, and that’s fine with them. May said the partnership with Jeni’s is kicking off its “Hope for the Holidays” campaign with a goal of raising $25,000.

“I believe we are going to exceed that number,” she said. “Oftentimes donors think, `I don’t have a million dollars, what is buying an ice cream cone really going to do?’

“Every single dollar is a life-changer. There is not one donation that will not impact lives.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, you can reach Ohio's 24/7 Crisis Text Line by texting 4HOPE to 741741, or call the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Hotline at 614-221-5445; the Teen Suicide Prevention Hotline at 614-294-3300; or the national Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255/TALK (1-888-628-9454 for Spanish speakers).

kgordon@dispatch.com

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus-based Jeni's among those donating to mental-health groups