Photo from Creating Hope Facebook page
ORLANDO | Peer Support Space and Letters Against Depression will be partnering for Creating Hope on May 25, an event focused on hand-writing messages to people struggling with mental health issues.
The event will be a part of the Acts of Love and Kindness tradition, a 49-day volunteerism campaign created by the One Orlando Alliance. This tradition runs between April 25 and June 12, in memory of the 49 lost to the Pulse tragedy in 2016.
Volunteers will go through a database of individuals seeking mental health support to learn more about the individuals receiving letters, allowing volunteers to create a more personalized message to the recipient. Each letter will then be sent to the appropriate recipient through Letters Against Depression.
“This will be an opportunity to not just give back but to be in a nonjudgmental space where it’s okay to not be okay and to connect with others also on personal healing journeys,” said Yasmin Flasterstein, executive director of Peer Support Space, in a press release. “We do this as a part of the Acts of Love and Kindness Movement so that, as those affected by the Pulse tragedy encouraged, we continue to ongoingly combat hate with love in honor of those lost.”
Creating Hope will be held in person this year, after last year’s fully virtual event which turned out 50 volunteers. Peer Support Space is considering concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic and will be hosting the event with a virtual option in order to welcome all volunteers.
The Creating Hope event will take place May 25 at 6:30 p.m. at United Against Poverty, located at 150 W Michigan St., with the virtual option being held on Zoom. This is a free event but you are asked to register at CreatingHopeTickets.eventbrite.com.
