We appeared in the Rockford Register Star Newspaper today. Thanks to Corina, Lisa and Nancy. By Corina Curry Rockford Register Star Posted Dec. 5, 2014 @ 8:00 am Updated at 6:04 PM ROCKFORD – Volunteers from a local group that provides advocacy and support for families affected by mental illness are putting on their Santa hats next Tuesday night to pack gift bags for people in mental health treatment or crisis this holiday season. Anyone interested in learning more about the National Alliance on Mental Illness Northern Illinois chapter or helping to send some holiday cheer to people in area hospitals, residential treatment, supported living or crisis intervention is invited to join in the festivities. Gift bags are filled with game books, gloves or mittens, lotion or hand sanitizer, snacks or candy and other small items. Programs with day rooms or patient lounges will receive board games, which need to be gift wrapped. NAMI provides the gifts and games, wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper and a card to go along with each gift. The gift bags have brought smiles to hundreds of faces the past six years. “Without hope, recovery is not possible,” said Nancy Basik, a NAMI board member. “We want to offer that hope to those who are sitting in the hospital or in program who may be all alone this holiday season. Many people who suffer from mental illness have pushed their families away. ... The gift bags let them know someone is thinking about them and wishing them the best.” Lisa Stevens, director of hospitalist operations at SwedishAmerican Health System, said program has grown at SwedishAmerican as people like herself have come to understand the joy they bring. “They always use nice holiday bags and bright colored paper,” Stevens said. “Some of these patients are really struggling. When they see that bag come in, it can be very meaningful. We’ll say something like ‘Your doctor thought you might like this,’ and you’ll see the look on their faces like ‘Oh, someone thought of me?’” Gift bags will be assembled, games will be wrapped and cards will be signed Tuesday night starting at 6 p.m. at Stepping Stones, 706 N. Main St. Previous years have drawn dozens of volunteers which makes the work pass quickly. Anyone is welcome to bring a dish to pass and stay for NAMI’s annual holiday potluck. Corina Curry: 815-987-1371; ccurry@rrstar; @corinacurry Read more: rrstar/article/20141205/News/141209607#ixzz3L4m5Yb8s
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 01:20:33 +0000
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