In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, AUUC’s Outreach Sunday Collection for May will support NAMI Northern Virginia, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI Northern Virginia serves individuals, family members, and friends affected by mental health challenges through awareness, education, support, advocacy, and collaboration with community partners.

NAMI Northern Virginia had over 10,000 touchpoints of service to the residents of our community in 2023.

• Offered hope and support to over 1,900 people through 15 support groups and the Helpline provided information and resources to 1125 contacts.
• Collectively, their education programs reached 1883 people through presentations and an additional 185 people through their 8-week, in-depth courses.
• Over 4,200 individuals attended their online and in-person monthly meetings, awareness presentations, speeches, panels, discussions, and resource fairs.
• NAMI Northern Virginia is credited with 1,400 advocacy points of contact with elected officials and policymakers, working toward mental health for all in our community.

The goal of NAMI Northern Virginia’s programs is to combat stigma, provide a community of peers to those affected by a mental health condition, and provide practical knowledge and support around mental health to improve the lives of Northern Virginians.

Donations may be made online through the AUUC website anytime during the month; Click Donate, then check “Monthly Outreach Offerings”. Donations of cash and checks may be placed in the collection basket during the Sunday service. Or you may mail a check to AUUC; make checks payable to AUUC with a note ‘outreach’ in memo line.

 Outreach collections are sponsored by the Social Justice Committee

 

Posted May 6, 2024