Planting seeds of hope
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Updated: November 05, 2009 12:05 PM
If you want to do something good for your mental health, pick up a copy of Lesra Martin’s book, The Power of a Promise.
Martin is a Kamloops lawyer and, like many of the people in Kamloops, is a resident by choice, not birth.
The Power of a Promise is not billed as a book about mental health, but anything that builds your positive energy, fires your imagination, provides a path to hope and creates a good feeling inside really is all about mental health.
Martin’s connection to the Cariboo Thompson United Way is a great example of what his book is all about.
He used the release of his book to support the launch of this year’s United Way fundraising campaign, even providing inspirational words for the agency’s campaign’s kick-off breakfast.
He ends his book by reminding us we all have promises to keep on behalf of the next generation.
Martin gave these five examples:
■ Offer hope to those who are struggling;
■ Demonstrate importance of our heart leading the way;
■ Show human spirit can overcome great obstacles;
■ Inspire others to dream how they too can make a difference; and
■ With a little discipline, incredible things can be accomplished.
It is almost like Martin is describing the United Way, which in many ways is our local double gift of mental health.
The United Way not only provides vital funding to many local organizations on the front line of work with “those who are struggling” but donors who give to the United Way talk about and show how important their active participation in a healthy community is great for their own mental health.
CMHA is proud to participate in the United Way campaign in a number of ways.
United Way supporters are the embodiment of hope and we are always humbled by the generosity of many people who may not see the results of their giving as clearly as those of us who work directly with people in need.
Every day, we see clients shed tears of gratitude when we are able to find a way to help them to a better place, a healthier family or hope of a better future.
Every day.
We see these transformations of tears of sorrow to ones of joy with remarkably small amounts of money.
Many people fall through the cracks of safety net services, and without United Way supported programs, hope would be gone.
At CMHA, the United Way is the only source of funding we have for our youth program that works with hundreds of street youth every year.
Without us, they do not eat, they do not have warm clothes, get encouragement to stay in school, or refrain from unhealthy drug or sexual behaviours.
Without the United Way, these youths would be without us, too.
When you give to the United Way, you will be helping thousands of people in your own community at a time when more and more are needing that help.
Be proud you helped a local resident, maybe even your own neighbour.
Give generously, and talk to the United Way how you can give more than money.
We all will thank you and your mental health will thank you too.
For more information, see the United Way website at unitedwaytnc.ca and show you too, believe in your community and your community’s mental health.
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