COLUMBUS — The Wellness Council received a large donation of $20,000 from the Beard and Mustache Contest and the announcement of a $12,000 Grant for Awareness Campaigns from Methodist Healthcare Ministries its monthly meeting on Feb. 9 at the Colorado County Courthouse in Columbus.
Shannon and Tisha Clinkenbeard presented the council with a check fromfrom the “You Matter 2” Beard and Moustache Competition that took place on Jan 21 at the Historic Casino Hall in La Grange. The competition allowed beards of all authenticities, constructed, fake, or grown to participate. The annu- al event was held to benefit the Wellness Council and the Mental Health Deputy.
Also, the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc awarded the Wellness Council with the grant to run the Awareness Campaign for 2023. The Awareness Campaign spread love in the streets with its first campaign of 2023.
Vice President Elizabeth Espinoza-Ro- driguez shared flyers and posters being distributed throughout the Greater Colorado Valley. The committee is working with community schools to award gift certificates to kids recognized as show ing true kindness.
The meeting of the council was the second of the newly formed Health and Behavioural Wellness Council of Greater Colorado Valley. Several committees gave updates on their first steps as they begin expanding into the social determinants and focus on behavioral health. During his presentation, Mental Health Deputy Andrew Lopez explained, “since the implementation of the Mental Health Deputy Program, community outreach for mental health services has become more prominent and beneficial to the community in which mental health consumers are more comfortable seeking mental health treatment.” Lopez is a part of the Crisis Intervention Committee which includes members of the Colo- rado County Sheriff's Office, the Weimar Police Department, the Columbus Police Department, the Eagle Lake Police Department, Texana, and the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team. Lopez said, “through proper crisis intervention and community outreach, law enforcement agencies have been building a better relationship with mental health consumers and their families within the community.”
All committees are open for volunteers. Be the change you want to see, and sign up today! The Wellness Council meets on the second Thursday of each month. The next meeting will be on March 9 at noon at the Colorado County Courthouse in Columbus. The special guest for the March meeting will be Robert Dole.
If you have any mental health needs, please reach out to a loved one or a doctor, or refer to the resource directory on the Wellness Council website to find help and support. https://thehealthbehav-ioralwellnesscouncilgreatercolo-radovalley. org/resource-directory/
