If you’ve ever laughed at a comedic actor who pulls out a list and watches it quickly unroll to a great length, then you’ve also seen a representation of the annual “list” that Volunteers for Mental Health attempts to fulfill each year.
Last year the list had more than 260 names on it, and this year it has grown to 272 adults in need in the community — a long list and a large task that the VMHMC has been tackling for more than 40 years.
“It’s amazing. Everyone knows their role and fulfills their role,” said Kym Bushong, who has coordinated the project for many years.
Fortunately, there are some other lists of individuals who lighten the load helping transform wishes into gifts for adults in local long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, recovery facilities and group homes.
This list of helpers begins with Jessica Barnhart and Kayla Datzman and the energetic elves of Southmont FCCLA. These students have already constructed six-item toiletry kits that each client will be given. FCCLA will follow this up by collecting items at Downtown Party Night, and then fulfilling orders at the VMHMC annual Stuff-a-Thon.
Joining them will be service-minded students at North Montgomery, including Libby Allen’s Student Council, health careers members, honor society members and members of several other NMHS service organizations who will wrap every gift in 270 big bags of gifts and help deliver them.
Six VMHMC high school student board members are helping lead the efforts this year: Hayden Jeffries and Kristen Thompson (Crawfordsville), Ryan Hopper and Clauddia Smedley (North Montgomery), and Jessie Bradley and Evelyn Zachary (Southmont).
First Christian Church scouts and Worship on Wednesday youth are also involved in coordinating materials and creating individual cards for each Gift Lift recipient.
Of course, an essential list of contributors are the special individuals who donate clothing and other requested items to the community locations or provide monetary donations to purchase special items.
“All of the gifts that individuals receive start with a dream, and our wonderful community members make the dreams come true with their generosity,” said Denise Walker, who also works with the program.
VMHMC is a member of the United Way family.
Collection containers will be available at the following locations until Thanksgiving week:
• Chase Bank, 200 S. Washington St.
• First Christian Church of Crawfordsville, 211 S. Walnut St.
• Fusion 54, 101 W. Main St.
• Gregg’s Corner Market, 100 W. Washington St., Waynetown
• Groups, 1408 Darlington Ave., Suite H
• Harry’s Hideout, 101 E. Main St.
• HHSB Crawfordsville East, 1400 Darlington Ave.
• HHSB Crawfordsville South, 1661 S. U.S. 231
• HHSB Ladoga, 4123 E. Main St. Ladoga
• HHSB Linden, 100 N. Meridian St., Linden
• HHSB New Ross, 101 S. Main St., New Ross
• HHSB Roachdale, 108 N. Indiana St., Roachdale
• Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, 100 Walter Remley Drive
• Jarocho Mini Market, 128 N. Green St.
• New Market United Methodist Church, 101 E Main St., New Market
• New Hope Chapel of Wingate, 105 W. Main St., Wingate
• Quest for Balance Wellness, 2886 U.S. 231
• R.P. Home and Harvest, 1601 U.S. 231
• Recovery Rec, 1300 Ladoga Road
• Southmont High School, 6425 U.S. 231
• Teachers Credit Union, 1570 U.S. 231
• Tri-County Bank, 224 E. Main St.
• Tri-County Bank, 101 E. South Blvd.
• Youngs Chapel Christian Church, 2341 C.R. 550N
Donations will also be welcomed next to Harry’s Hideout from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Downtown Party Night.
Monetary donations are greatly appreciated, and may be sent to VMHMC, P.O. Box 491, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.
Further more information, including a list of gift suggestions, visit online at www.vmhmc.org; or contact Denise Booher Walker at 765-275-2689, 765-307-0362 or email at dbw@vmhmc.org.
