Due to public health concerns surrounding coronavirus and recommendations against large gatherings, we’ve made the decision to postpone our annual Stop the Stigma 5K, which was originally scheduled for May 2, 2020. Please see the letter below from our race director:
Dear friends,
Today, I write to you not only as the Stop the Stigma 5K Race Director, but also as a fellow runner and someone who struggles with anxiety. The Stop the Stigma 5K is near and dear to my heart. Every year, I look forward to planning this event and seeing hundreds of people show up on that beautiful spring day to run in support of mental health. So today, it breaks my heart to let you know that because the current coronavirus crisis, we must postpone it. And I wish I could tell you the exact date that we can all get together in solidarity and run (or walk) for our loved ones who are suffering. But I can’t. The reality is we do not know when it will be safe to gather again.
Yesterday, I went for a long run. I needed it to work through what I have been feeling and to try to feel hopeful. I am struggling to make sense of this all, with mounting anxiety about what this means going forward. And during my run I thought about what I was going to say in this email. I know we cannot control much right now. We are in the “long run” of our lives right now. It may not be as soon as we would like, but we can stay hopeful that we will be able to gather again to stop the stigma. Just like during any long run, if you take it one mile at a time and stay positive, you will get through it and it will feel rewarding in the end.
Since we changed the focus of this event several years ago to stop the stigma of mental illness and addiction and to raise funds for our New Directions Counseling Center, the community support around this has been awe-inspiring. We have raised $186,000 to provide counseling sessions to those that are uninsured or cannot afford their high co-pays or deductibles (close to 7,500 counseling sessions!). This event has truly saved lives. But there is still much work to be done. There are still so many of our friends, family and neighbors that suffer in silence or suffer because they cannot afford the help they so desperately need. And this current state of affairs is only going to exacerbate fears and anxieties. However, our New Directions therapists are there to help. They are currently taking protective measures and conducting counseling sessions over the phone.
We need your continued support to meet the demand that is and will be put on our therapists. This year we have raised $36,000 for the Stop the Stigma 5K through generous sponsorships, donations and your registration fees. We were on the trajectory to make this a record-breaking year. Help us keep that momentum going to reach our goal of $55,000. Please donate.
On May 2, go for a run or a walk and share it with us! As soon as we know when we can all get together again in celebration, we will be shouting it from the roof tops. Until then, please stay safe and stay well.
Take care,
Paula Daniels
Director of Development ~ Interfaith Social Services
Interfaith Social Services’ food pantry is an essential program and is open regular hours (Monday-Friday, 10-11:45am, and Wednesday evenings 5-7pm).
Brett Dixon earned his B.A. in Philosophy and Religious Studies at Salve Regina University and his M.A. in Clinical Mental Health at Lesley University. Brett works with clients of all ages and specializes in depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief and substance abuse. Brett has experience working with children in both hospital and community settings and with adults with dual diagnosis who are currently experiencing homelessness.
Caitlin joined the counseling staff at New Directions Counseling Center in 2019. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and Religion at Amherst College, and her M.A. in Counseling from Northwestern University. Caitlin works with clients of all ages dealing with issues that include depression, anxiety, OCD, low self-esteem, social anxiety, grief, perfectionism, and miscarriage/infertility. She utilizes an integrative approach, drawing from cognitive-behavioral, strengths-based, narrative, and play therapy, always with a focus on helping clients understand their symptoms in the larger context of their lives. Caitlin also uses Christian counseling for those who want to include their Christian faith in their therapy. Her focus is on creating a comfortable space for clients to be themselves, have their thoughts and feelings respected, and feel fully involved in the treatment process. She believes that humor makes life better, that children’s books are for adults too, and that both are best enjoyed with good people and good tea.
Leighann is a volunteer in the Bureau Drawer, where she helps out in the sorting room and assists in the shop. She’s been a wonderful addition to the shop since 2009 (nearly a decade!). You’ll recognize her by her distinctive laugh and her tiny Chihuahua, Chewy, who she brings to Interfaith once a month to have his nails trimmed by a fellow volunteer.