“Black women and girls deserve access to healing, and that healing will impact generations,” says Rachel Cargle, the founder and president of the Loveland Foundation Therapy Fund.
A drive was run by the Mental Health Club –led by Sophie David (V) Isabella Bilous (V) Emma Friedman (IV)– fundraising for the Loveland Foundation which provides assistance for Black women and girls seeking therapy.
The drive sold stickers featuring mental health symbols such as “healing is not linear” and “you are you and that is enough”. The small stickers sold for $4, big stickers were $6 and all donations were gratefully accepted. The drive was released through email to the students and faculty and was also shared through social media. The COVID-19 pandemic prohibited any in-person sales until an opportunity arose. On Tuesday the 27th of October, a safe in-person sale was allowed so long as a series of necessary restrictions were followed.
The first safe in-person sale, following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, was held under the sun on the quad. Blue cohort members Carson Lender (V), Ailynn O’neill (V), Ines Menendez-Gonzalez (V), Dylan Stone (IV) and Emmett Levine (IV) sold stickers on behalf of the Mental Health Club all day. By the end of the day, the sale raised over $150.
A week later on Thursday, the 5th of November, orange cohort members Jala Atkinson (IV), Isabel Corb (V), Sophie David (V) and Emma Friedman (IV) held the final part of the drive. During A and B band as well as both lunch periods, over $250 was raised. In addition, more than 30 homemade bracelets were added to the shop, created by Emma Friedman (IV). The beaded bracelets were sold for $2 spreading messages like “You Matter”, “You Are Loved” and “You Are Enough”. By the end of the day, $1,000 was raised to be donated to the incredible Loveland Foundation.
Later in the afternoon during Flex Time, a Mental Health Club meeting was held outside on the field to package the stickers for the donors. In the presence of a teacher, all students wore masks and sat more than 6 feet away from each other. The sun shined on the field as students listened to music and told stories of their in-person week of school. Envelopes were stamped, addresses were written and thank you notes were placed inside.
This drive could not have been possible without leaders Isabella Bilous (V), Sophie David (V) and Emma Friedman (IV), as well as the Fundraising Coordinator Isabel Corb (V), Social Media Coordinator Carson Lender (V), Jala Atkinson (V), Ms. Cohen, Dr. Lassman, Mr. Cox and most importantly the members of the Mental Health Club.
