Eleanor K. Letcher Executive Director of CONTACT of Mercer County, right, accepts two $5,000 checks from Investors Bank representative Dawn Darrah Assistant Vice President Branch Manager– Hopewell.
Troubled pre-teens, teenagers and adults from across the country who are depressed or are experiencing issues ranging from abuse to family problems will soon have another avenue of coping, thanks in part to two $5,000 grants, one from the Investors Bank Foundation and one from Roma Bank Community Foundation, to CONTACT. The funds will be used for a new program called TxtToday– a confidential and anonymous national text message crisis line. The non-profit organization provides compassionate, confidential listening and referral services that give hope to people in crisis.
Of people aged 15 to 34, suicide is the second leading cause of death in the United States, according to CONTACT. The non-profit believes the tool to save these young people may be the cell phone– something 98 percent of them have.
The new program is a follow-up to CONTACT’s crisis hotline, but talking on the phone is the least preferred method of help-seeking communication for those under 25, according to CONTACT, so the organization felt a texting program would better reach young adults. TxtToday is private and users can text even in a room full of people. It also is more natural for users, able to help more users simultaneously, easier in the process of referrals, and creates a seamless record of conversation in the case of multiple crises from the same user.
CONTACT applied for the grants through Investors Foundation, which supports non-profit organizations that enrich the diverse communities served by Investors Bank; Roma Bank became part of Investors Bank in early December 2013. The funds will be used for training staff and volunteers of CONTACT.
Although Investors Bank provided much of the funds necessary to launch the program, CONTACT still is looking for additional monies for training purposes. Sponsors can donate as little as $10, and depending on the size of their donation, may be personally thanked in a video, newsletter, and social media, as well as receive a gift. To learn more or donate, visit razoo.com/story/Contact-Usa-32. CONTACT says every dollar helps.
