A local couple whose son benefitted from counselling and funding for extra-curricular activities from Chatham-Kent Children’s Services (CKCS) decided to give back to the organization.
Jenn and Chad Bedford of Chatham expressed their gratitude to the program by holding a vendor show in May, which was also Mental Health Awareness Month, at St. Andrew’s Church featuring 30 home business owners, raising $396 for CKCS youth mental health program and $396 for Hope House.
“I sell Thirty One bags and purses and I reached out to some friends who also do direct sales. The reply was overwhelmingly huge and within 24 hours I had all the spots filled,” Jenn explained. “This donation is just a small token of appreciation for the work children’s services has done – the help you have given my son and the activities you put him in, and we just want to give back.”
The Bedfords explained counselling for their son over the past two years and activities to join with children his own age have a been big help to their family.
“It gives him a release he doesn’t really get and gives him a chance to interact with kids his own age,” Chad said. “When both parents are working, it’s hard to spend the time you want with your kids.”
Jenn said physical limitations after an accident have made it hard for her to do things like run around outside or get on the floor and play Legos, so having the support and funding from CKCS to give her child the chance to play with others has helped a great deal.
Chad said this vendor sale went so well, they are already planning to make it an annual event.
Teri Thomas-Vanos, executive director at CKCS, thanked the Bedfords for their donation and noted the importance of mental health services.
“One-in-five people will be diagnosed with a mental illness, but five-in-five people are impacted by mental illness,” Thomas-Vanos noted, and said CKCS will continue to work on making important services like mental health counselling and support for families available.
Thomas-Vanos took over as executive director of CKCS in May and said she is looking forward to working with staff and the community.
Sally Reaume, CKCS mental health program supervisor, said kids who are involved with counselling services at CKCS are eligible for respite services so its helps put them at TJ Stables for a week of riding lessons for example, or at gymnastics once a week for 10 weeks.
“They can sign up for a program in the community that gives them a chance to do something recreationally and gives the parents some respite and a break,” Reaume said. “It’s an opportunity for kids to do what every other kid gets to do but maybe families don’t have the ability to do it. Kids get to have fun and parents have an opportunity to watch them have fun.”
Reaume said there is a mental health walk-in clinic the first and third Wednesday of the month at CKCS from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the last appointment at 4:30 p.m. due to time needed. Any community member is welcome to bring their children aged 0-18 years of age, and if more counselling is needed the child can receive a referral.
