Volunteers needed to prepare mental health destressing items for local at-risk youth May 14

In support of Mental Health Awareness Month, The Shoebox Foundation is seeking volunteers to help prepare "mental health" shoe boxes on Saturday, May 14, from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Pine Cone, 1955 Huntley Road in West Dundee.

"We are requesting help with volunteers to help prepare the shoe boxes and donations to help us in this very important effort," said Tissanie Simmons, CEO and president of The Shoebox Foundation.

The shoe boxes for local teens are filled with a variety of items to de-stress including mini coloring books, calming/sensory toys (fidgets, bubbles, stress ball, slime and paint), journal and pen, and affirmation cards.

"At-risk youth (ethnic and racial minority backgrounds) are more susceptible to mental health disorders," Simmons said. "This national disparity calls for more programs that aid in prevention, access and treatment that produce quality outcomes."

The Shoebox Foundation, founded in 2021 in Elgin, is a communal nonprofit organization that is committed to providing programing and resources to holistically support underserved and underresourced children of color (age 10 to 17) in Kane County to promote mental, physical and spiritual growth.

For more information, contact Simmons at (224) 484-8168. Visit www.theshoeboxfoundation.org.