Your Cincinnati Car Donation Benefits Mental Health Awareness
Help end stigma during May’s Mental Health Month
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”― Wendy Mass
Millions of Americans face their days through the lens of a mental health condition. Some are diagnosed, in treatment and armed with advocates. Others go at it alone, often overwhelmed and embarrassed, leading to potentially life-threatening routes of escape. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.
Many who silently struggle must do so because they can’t afford medical care. Volunteers of America Greater Ohio exists to help people with mental illnesses find support and successfully manage their lives. Your Cincinnati car donation aids our critical mission.
What is mental illness?
You’ve probably heard the terms before—depression, anxiety, bipolar, borderline personality, schizophrenia, ADHD. But, they’re not just disorders or scientific words, they’re our coworkers, our neighbors, our family, ourselves.
What was once such a mystery, leaving many to struggle, misunderstood and often silenced, has seen more and more spotlight in recent years with the untimely deaths of celebrities, most recently comedian Robin Williams.
During the month of May, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the rest of the nation are further highlighting the reality of mental illness with Mental Health Month in an effort to end stigma, improve all lives and reinforce that no one has to go at their battles alone.
Helping those who need help most
Whether someone with a mental illness finds our services through circumstances such as homelessness or through referral, we focus on assisting them to establish lives of independence in their communities.
Our primary focus in Greater Ohio is connecting people to appropriate, affordable housing and mental health treatment programs. More specifically, a few services we provide are:
Affordable housing (scattered-sites)
We serve individuals with a diagnosed chronic mental illness who are able to live on their own by providing quality, affordable housing in 20 scattered-site apartments in Port Clinton, Ohio. Other transitional housing sites that offer mental health counseling are in Cleveland and Mansfield.
Intensive care: adult care facilities
We provide around-the-clock supervision, personal care and supportive services in group home settings to severely mentally disabled men and women. Our four adult family homes, located in Sandusky and Port Clinton, are licensed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Veterans Resource Centers
According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, 45 percent of homeless veterans suffer from mental health issues. These issues must be addressed for our veterans to reach self-sufficiency.
The centers in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Dayton present a residential treatment program that includes evaluation, development of a treatment plan, individualized and/or group therapy and continued support. If necessary, we also refer veterans to a mental health treatment program.
A Cincinnati car donation helps
Through our mental health treatment program and transitional housing, we help those with mental illnesses regain independence and dignity.
These programs are made possible through the generosity of people like you. When you donate your car, truck, motorcycle, boat or RV to Volunteers of America, you are giving back to those in need in Ohio cities like Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.
We make donating your automobile simple. Just fill out our online form or call (800) 225-0732. We’ll then tow your donated vehicle for free, even if it hasn’t run in years. Please consider donating your unwanted vehicle to Volunteers of America.
If you or someone you know may need a mental health assessment, anonymous online tools are available. Learn more and help yourself or someone you care about.