Here's a Blast-From-The Past "Outreach BBQ Potluck Time; Annually! :)
When: October 15, 2022 (it's now the year 2024)
@Smyrna Park is located in Ceres, California.
Paid reservation required by Host: NAMI Stanislaus of California
I volunteer @NAMI Stanislaus and have for over 5 straight years now helping to provide amenities and access to resources. Annually, we host our BBQ in the Park & invite people who are on our non-obligation monthly "What's Happening, Electronic Newsletter!" & it is also open to the public. The essential element in gaining access is to RSVP to Dar by the deadline for doing so.
If interested you can email Dar; the President-Elect of the Board of Directors @ Dar@NAMIStanislaus.org or phone @ (209) 558-4555.
PRICE: ALWAYS Free!!! but it is a POTLUCK which works out beautifully each time. :) Yipee! :-) WE have GAMES too that are always a hit! BINGO especially and LOTS OF PRIZES for participation. Which, is optional as always :)
No matter what, the turn-out is fantastic each year bringing ol'Faithfuls and Newbies to the forefront; we so appreciate this support and opportunity to help the masses.
We want to thank @McDonalds, (more than one location locally), for their always generous acts of @kindness & their hopefulness. It's surely felt by every one of us standing up to Stigma and breaking the hold it has on others.
Also, A HUGE Thank You to Grocery Outlet in Turlock, California for your generous annual donation. You all seem ready for us as we head into your store ourselves and file our request for your donation. People love your gifts & offerings and so do we! :)
#Safeplace is what we offer. At this event, the park was primarily ours except for what appeared to be several "gang members" floating and sitting close enough to hear us speak. Gangs are never, ever invited to our gatherings. Just making that crystalline clear. We are a peaceful lot yet perfectly capable of representing @peace not war.
This past year of 2023 we made the difficult decision to 'cancel' this same annual BBQ due unfortunately to a lack of interest from the public. I'm sorry to anyone who looks-forward to this event; we too were very disappointed.
Maybe 2024 will shine like the bright light it is.
In closing, I'd NOT visit this park in the late afternoon &/or night because the undesirable GANG members seem to lurk.
I Love NAMI Stanislaus so much as they helped me when I was freshly diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 back in 2018 by my psychiatrist, Dr. Zainab Al-Dhaher & my professional and consistent Psychotherapist Kristin Cote. Reviews are written for both professionals, in my Review section of my Yelp page; online here. I sincerely hope the reviews help; that's my intent.
Since improving #MENTALHEALTH & quality of life is our Mission here at NAMI Stanislaus, including all the information I have in this journal is relevant. The park was clean and the restrooms were refreshed and ready to operate. They were close to the area we rented which was super nice and well utilized.
Please remember, we all have mental health. You now have access to at least one legitimate and helpful mental health resource in us; NAMI Stanislaus.
Here's Our Contact Information (English Only at this time):
NAMI STANISLAUS: 800 Scenic Dr Bldg. F-7, Modesto, CA 95350,
Telephone: (209) 558-4555.
The phone line is staffed 24/7 by a working answering machine so please leave a message should you reach it and not immediately receive a person. We are GREAT at returning telephone calls & emails.
And, last but not least, we are always hiring for Speakers for our outreach and other opportunities. We have received many Grants due to COVID-19 and now have some funds to actually "pay" legitimate helpers in spreading the clean word about our offerings including weekly confidential and open to the public Support Groups for those living with mental health condition(s) (like myself) & a different group at the same time Monday's for the supporters of those living with mental health concerns and conditions. I've placed the link here for our website. You can sign up for FREE for our WEEKLY EMAILED REMINDERs for our support groups. We are growing due to the resources and light shone by COVID 19 & the emergence of legitimate Mental Health resources & grants. So we can afford to PAY for Volunteers at this time and Employees alike. Just call or message us and let's see if we would be a good fit for you. Thank you for your time, everyone. :) WE are an honest transparent company and only work with those who legitimately do the same.
https://namistanislaus.org/
Thank you for reading,
~ Jana Leigh Thomas, Yelper read more