JACKSON – A new community organization is seeking to make change and support efforts of mental health in the community and their first effort was a festival that focused on the “Last Days Of Summer.”
The event held at Hope Cathedral on 46 Bennetts Mills Rd. was designed as a family activity noting the fast-approaching conclusion of the summer and the fall re-opening of schools in the district. The fact all of this was happening during the current COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t lost on the organizers, who made sure face masks, social distancing and other precautions were in place for the outside event.
The group called Minds Mending Minds formed from the Jackson Peace Unit which itself was formed by those who organized a Black Lives Matter rally back in May. They organized a protest which drew around a thousand people to Johnson Memorial Park to show unity in the fight against inequality in the wake of the George Floyd case and other incidents like it.
The sudden rain and thunderstorm that blew into the area on the afternoon of Aug. 23 unfortunately caused some concerns of its potential postponement or cancellation but it didn’t dampen the spirits of Kiana Yasmine, Kenneth Bradley, Elliot Bell and others who worked on the event. Arts and crafts, vendors, a police sponsored mini-golf activity, basketball court action and a food truck plus a gift raffle were all part of the fun.
Backpack giveaway donations and resources for teachers and parents were also part of the late afternoon/early evening activity which ran from 3 to 7 p.m.
Members of Rays of Hope were also present to assist with the event.
Kiana Yasmine said that while Minds Mending Minds is a subgroup of the Jackson Peace Unit it has a slightly different focus. “We are more concerned with mental health awareness in the Ocean County area.”
“We’ve been having meetings where we sit and talk about what’s going on in the world, in the community, in our heads and we just try to help one another cope in this safe space. This is only the beginning. Minds Mending Minds is committed to creating a healthy community physically, mentally, and spiritually,” she added.
Also present were Jackson Police Chief Matthew Kunz, Special Officer Lauren Hornfeck and School Resource Officer Colin Menafra.
The chief said the mini golf putting station set up in the pavilion of the Hope Cathedral grounds included some fun prizes for children. “We have a left and right-handed putter for the kids. They can do a single putt here and win a prize.”
“We are hoping to have a little fun with the kids in the community and to be part of something nice here tonight,” the chief added.
All three officers also took some time out from mini-golf to play a bit of basketball on the nearby court with some of the teens and volunteers present.
“We want to support the volunteers here. The Rays of Hope are also a great organization and we hope more people will come out,” the chief said.
“We have some sand art and we have some poster board where we trace the kids’ hands on it and have them write their names on it and make little wreaths out of it,” said Jackson resident Jess Singer, one of the volunteers.
Volunteer Lisa Richardson Hall posted on the Jackson Peace Unit Facebook page “Thank you for your commitment and effort to unite the Jackson community. Offering free events and giving opportunities to local vendors and other organizations to engage with each other is priceless. We appreciate everything you have done. Please don’t give up. It’s helping.”
Among the vendors at the event was Manchester’s own, “Princess Katey” who remarked during the event “I’m from Whiting and I am here selling some sage and some crystals and artwork.”
She was joined by her husband Kelvis and said she has been in business since 2017. “I’ve been going to festivals like cranberry festivals, music festivals,” she added.
Her organic sage is grown right in Whiting she said proudly although to maintain the mystery of her business, she declined to reveal her last name adding though that she looked forward to a time when the pandemic would end and that she could bring her wares to Manchester Day and other events like it.
