The Kendall County Democratic Women (KCDW) hosted a complimentary meet and greet wine and cheese event on June 11, at Floribunda Gardens (www.floribundagardens.com), at 2093 Collins Road in Oswego. Guests enjoyed a lovely afternoon in a beautiful garden setting while sipping wine, snacking from the appetizer buffet, and shopping for plants and flowers. A demonstration about container gardening was featured. Owner Nancy Patush put together an impressive decorative herb planter with a moss lining on the spot. Floribunda Gardens grows almost all plants on site, “with lots of love and attention and never any chemicals”. Nancy also keeps chickens that are fed organic produce that is grown on site. The freshly laid eggs were a big hit and sold out quickly!
Guest speakers included Stephanie Weber, Executive Director, Suicide Prevention Services (www.spsfv.org), and therapist Jane Bodine, LCPC. They spoke about the increasing pressures of the current economy on mental health and families, and what resources are available for help. All proceeds donated at the event benefited Suicide Prevention Services, which serves all of Kendall County. County Board Member Suzanne Petrella also attended.
The event was one of a series of events sponsored by the KCDW to introduce the community to local businesses and support local charitable organizations while mixing with old and new friends. The Democratic Women want to promote shopping local, which brings more funds to the local community than shopping at big-box stores.
UPDATE REGARDING SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES - PLEASE DONATE IF YOU CAN!
From the Beacon News http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1651676,2_1_AU04_SUICIDE_S1-090704.article
July 4, 2009
By PAUL DAILING For The Beacon News
At a time when its services might be needed even more, Batavia-based Suicide Prevention Services is being forced to cut back on its hours.
Suicide Prevention Service's office hours have been cut by three hours daily -- it's now open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. -- and no services will be offered on Tuesdays.
Weekend depression screening or counseling, previously available upon request, has been eliminated. Depression screening and the first hour of counseling will no longer be offered free of charge, although a price has not been set.
"It would have to be at least $10, and some people can't afford even that," Executive Director Stephanie Weber said. "That doesn't cover staff time. That covers the materials."
The volunteer-based suicide hotline continues to be run 24 hours a day, but the volunteers would not have staff assistance during the hours cut.
"They're going to have to shoulder more," Weber said.
And, Weber said, their will be more of a burden to shoulder, as Aurora's Mutual Ground closed its shelter for victims of domestic violence Wednesday because of the state budget impasse. As of Thursday evening, Mutual Ground had turned away seven women and nine children seeking shelter.
"Mutual Ground is sending (people seeking domestic abuse counseling) out of state," Weber said. "They're sending them to Indiana or Wisconsin and that's our answer, too."
Suicide Prevention Services has four full-time staffers whose pay was cut by 20 percent and three part-timers whose pay was cut by 40 percent.
"We can't do it energy-wise, we can't do it financially," Weber said. "Our doors will be closed every Tuesday."
She estimated the group would need $50,000 to keep operating at previous levels. The organization has a $300,000 yearly budget.
Jerry Murphy is executive director for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services, a coalition of local mental health boards covering the southern third of Kane County. The group is also Suicide Prevention Service's top funder, although mental health boards, youth services boards and United Ways throughout the region also support the SPS.
Murphy said much of the woes facing small mental health-related groups like Suicide Prevention Services started with the current state budget wrangling.
"That's the big dog or big elephant in the room in terms of mental health funding," Murphy said. "Most mental health services have been cut by 50 percent at the state level."
This didn't cut money to Suicide Prevention Services, but slashed funding for Kane County groups like the Gateway Foundation, the Association for Individual Development and Elgin's Ecker Center, Murphy said.
"When they can't serve people, you get the overflow into the more family-oriented organizations like SPS," Murphy said.
Weber said her group has also seen overflow from hospitals trying to tighten their belts.
"I've gotten two calls this week from hospitals saying, 'We need to cut back our services and we need to find out what services you can offer.' Well, we can't," Weber said.