MHK Giveaway at Proviso West

Last week, The Firehouse Dream team visited Proviso West High School in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month for another Mental Health Kit giveaway. We were able to hand out 201 Mental Health Kits to students! We also had a table set in the cafeteria for students to come up and get information about available resources and programming. Students engaged with the kits, asked questions, and showed interest in the intention behind the items inside the kits, which are tools centered around emotional well-being, grounding, reflection, and self-care.

This giveaway completed our goal of distributing 500 Mental Health Kits throughout May! Our giveaways continue to create opportunities to support mental health, increase access to resources, and strengthen community and connection. Thank you to Proviso West High School for welcoming us once again and supporting their students and their mental health within the community.

TFD Volunteer Day | Mental Health Kits

As we prepare for Mental Health Awareness Month, we had an amazing volunteer night where we built community while packing stickers, assembling mental health kits, and sharing a meal together. In total, we packed 500 “Bag of Big Feelings!” We usually need two volunteer days to pack all 500 Mental Health Kits, but we had a dream team of volunteers who worked so hard to get all the kits packed and ready for our youth!

Our volunteer day has a packing station to put the stickers together, a station for packing the “Bag of Big Feelings”, and volunteers who made this day successful and fun!

Calm Room: Bracelet Making

During the Calm Room, we set up tables and chairs for a bracelet-making session, led by Liz, our Program Coordinator. Liz explained the intention behind making bracelets and how each charm and/or bead can be represented. The students chose their beads and charms and got to wear their bracelets, the excitement from the students seeing their own bracelets come together.

By the end of the session, 17 bracelets were made!

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

PMSA | MHC: Bracelet Making

In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, inspirational bracelets were made with students of Proviso Math and Science Academy. With beads, charms, and string, each unique bracelet was made as a reminder of strength, care, and community. Some bracelets were made for themselves, and others were made for friends and family: the people who keep them going. Each bracelet carries a message that you are heard and you are seen.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Volunteer Night

During Volunteer Night, Jessica, our Community Engagement Coordinator, prepared Mental Health Kits, and with the help of our amazing volunteers! We separated and packed the stickers and fidget game consoles that will also be included in each Mental Health Kit.

As we continue to prepare our Mental Health Kits for our next Volunteer Night, we would like others to know that these kits will be distributed in September in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. Our goal is to pass out 500 kits this semester!