“To start a conversation,” Beacon for Hope Suicide Prevention held its Hope at the Park event Saturday in an effort to encourage the community to talk about mental health and the importance of seeking help and support.
This year, Beacon for Hope partnered with other organizations in Emporia to provide a variety of suicide prevention resources to the community, whether through traditional avenues like Beacon or nontraditional means. Director Melissa Owen says the need for information through events like Hope at the Park, coupled with the success of the Hope With Horsepower car show earlier this year, sets the stage for a combined event next year.
As Beacon was raising awareness at Peter Pan Park, it had fundraising help later in the day as KVOE broadcaster Tagan Trahoon caught passes during halftime of the Emporia State-Pittsburg State as one fundraiser and then organized a comedy show for a second fundraiser.
Over $2,000 came from Saturday’s events.
Owen says Beacon for Hope, which continues its Warriors for Hope fundraising campaign into early October, is planning to reach out to every local business to distribute more information about the 988 suicide lifeline that was recently enacted. Beacon for Hope’s annual masquerade ball is also coming up in November.
