Westminster Tool and the Plainfield, CT community came together to support National Mental Health Awareness Month in raising $10,000 from their NAMIWalks event.
In these tough and uncertain times, more people than ever before struggle with mental illness. Westminster Tool and its community have been personally impacted by these battles.
That’s why we teamed up with the EAMA (Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance) to help honor and support Mental Health Awareness Month. “Together, we can change the way our community sees mental illness. We need to end the stigma and extend hope and support for those affected before it’s too late,” says Ray Coombs, President of Westminster Tool. “Stigma around mental health creates this environment of shame and silence. It’s time for all of us to step up and change the conversation.”
Organizations such as NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) work tirelessly to provide mental health education, support, and awareness. This year the organization is uniting under one mission: Mental Health for All. NAMI organized NAMIWalks, virtual walks where teams hosted their own in-person event and fundraised from all over the world. With over 3,500 teams, NAMIWalks has already raised over $7.5 million nationwide.
On May 20, Westminster Tool joined several EAMA members and those from the local community for their own NAMIWalks event at the Plainfield Town Hall. Together, over 50 people walked to help raise awareness for the cause. “I asked myself ‘What can I do? How can I help?’ and the answer was to start the conversation,” Coombs says. “By talking about our experiences, we can help tackle that stigma and start giving compassion and empathy to the people who need it the most.”
In addition to starting that conversation, EAMA and Westminster Tool team raised $10,000 to support NAMI in their advocacy for mental health.
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMIWalks promotes awareness of mental health, raises funds for NAMI’s free, top-rated programs, and builds community by letting people know they are not alone. To learn more about NAMI and their resources, visit www.nami.org.
To learn more about Westminster Tool’s community involvement, visit www.westminstertool.com/community-focus
