Friends, family, and supporters of Bell, you are cordially invited to attend the opening reception (and candle light vigil) on Thursday , May 23 from 5 to 7pm  to support these artists.

Please make time in your schedule to come view the collective creative expressions in paint, clay, textile, paper, photography, and mixed media produced by residents of York and Adams counties who are living with mental illness.

The art show is open during regular York College Galleries during regular gallery hours until May 31.

Mental health services employees, left to right: Tammy Sandbek, Angela Wilhide, Joanna Witmer, Lori Leister, Jessica Feldman, Ashley Martinez, Craig Yanover, Kris Stroup, Nnebu Ochiobu, Robin Garnett

As members of Bell’s mental health services team gathered for a training yesterday, it seemed appropriate to ask them to stand behind the proclamation drafted by York City Mayor C. Kim Bracey for a photograph. Declaring May in the City as Mental Health Awareness Month, the document sheds light on the ongoing need of quality services for citizens living with mental illness. Services like those provided by Bell, and the dedicated people who work for our agency.

In fact, employees in the Recovery and Psychosocial Rehabilitatin training represented five different Bell mental health programs. Their varying levels of experience and time on the job added dimension to the session, which focused on helping them build a toolbox of support strategies they could use to empower people living with mental illness.

The group ranged in “newness” from a student only hours into her summer internship to the department’s director, Kris Stroup, who led the training and recently celebrated her 28th anniversary with the agency.

(More of this contributor’s take on the training may be found in a separate post.)

•  Being part of Social Rehabilitation, the Sendero Program started with 11 initial participants and has grown to offer programming to upwards of 20 plus consumers at any given time.

• The program currently has two fully bilingual Caseworkers who facilitate mental health awareness, socialization, and skill building groups. The program also offers case management services to its participants. Sendero also takes part in special activities and events such as camping, day trips/outings, and holiday events done by the Mental Health Department.

• The Sendero Program also has the privilege of producing an annual calendar with such themes as: Personal Medicine, Mental Health Diagnosis Awareness, Stigmas, etc. and the program consumers are proud to have this information publicized for the education of Mental Health.  

Sendero Motto:

Never Forget, Not for One Day, How Special You Really Are.

Thank you to Sendero caseworkers Lourdes Gonzalez and Leo Lopez for this submission.

A Mother’s Day tradition for nearly four decades, the family-friendly outdoor event is special to us at Bell because it brings yet another chance to connect with Famous Pit Beef, Texas Beef and BBQ masters, Big Fat Daddy’s, as our vendor partner. Every purchase from one of the Big Fat Daddy concessions stands supports Bell programs, as at least half of everything they sell that day comes directly to us! So when you’re at the fair and those tummies get to rumbling, mosey over to a Big Fat Daddy’s truck and order up a tasty sandwich.

One of the many reasons we love partnering with Wayne and Cindy and the rest of the Big Fat Daddy’s family is their commitment to running a green business. Read their Green Pledge.

The Fair features 150 artisans and food vendors as well as live entertainment and strolling performers filling the air with music. The Kid’s Fun Block is also a hit with rides and games for children to enjoy.

*FYI: Streets closed for the Fair: Market Street from Newberry to Pine, and George Street from Philadelphia to King.

Handmade cards containing heartfelt, encouraging sentiments and colourful shirts in all sizes were gratefully received by mothers in residence at Bell Family Shelter the week before Mother’s Day. 

Much appreciation goes to the caring group of friends and family who shared of their blessings to reach out and help those who are struggling. 

Women helping women: Donors and Bell Family Shelter residents

Hear first-hand from service users about the role Bell programs have played in their goal planning and individual path to recovery.

Learn the importance of eliminating the stigma associated with mental illness and how you can help.

Talk with staff about the services each of their programs offers and why they choose to work at Bell.

Our informational open house events and the art show at York College Galleries are free to attend. Registration in advance for any open house is required. Please call 717-848-5767 x 516 or x 400.

There are ways for YOU to engage in the life-changing, empowering, vital work being done through the programs of Bell Socialization Services as a volunteer.  Some of them are listed on our Volunteer Here  page, as is a downloadable copy of our volunteer application.  

Take a minute to browse our current opportunities. If you don’t see anything there that seems to be quite right, contact us to talk about other options. We’re happy to talk with you.

If you are already a volunteer, either at Bell or elsewhere, THANK YOU! It’s a better world because of you.

When that day arrives here in York County, you’d be hard pressed not to notice the hardworking groups of people in their Live United tee shirts, shoulder to shoulder with co-workers and others, who’ve caught the volunteering spirit.

Our experience with Day of Action (and, formerly, Day of Caring) volunteers has always been terrific.  Cheerful responders to the call typically arrive early, ready to roll up their sleeves, and put their minds and backs into whatever task is at hand.  They dig in, rip out, lather up, wash down, put together, heave and ho until the job is done.  

Last year’s volunteers get extra points in our book, coming out in the midst of a miserable heat wave that left many of us in puddles of perspiration, yet they perservered. Check out photos of the groups:  York County MH/MR, Isaac’s Restaurant South York, Wagman Companies, Glatfelter Insurance Group and Liberty Mutual Insurance, First Energy Corp,  and C. S. Davidson.

Bell’s 2013 Day of Action projects, which include a couple vehicle washes, some landscaping, and a shelf- building project, are listed on the United Way of York County’s web site.  Grab a couple co-workers, talk to the boss about getting the morning off to do some good stuff, and sign up.  We’ll see you on June 21!

In the forty plus years following the humble beginnings of Monday night programs and Sunday night suppers, a revolving number of people have been engaged to lend guidance and support, leading the way through myriad changes and growth to what Bell Socialization Services is today.

Logan, Griffiths, Miller, Davis, Lease, Santiago, Jacobs, Welber, Cramer, Anderson, and Klimchock pictured.

Our current board of directors brings a diversity of experience, networks, and know-how to the task of navigating us safely through the sometimes choppy waters of today’s challenging human services environment, overseeing our mental health, intellectual disability and shelter service departments and administrative operations to assure quality on all fronts.

Today’s Volunteer Appreciation Week post salutes those community members who have in the past and continue to give of their time and talent to advance Bell’s mission confidently into the future. 

 Our current Board of Directors is:   Rev. Robert L. Anderson, George Cramer, Dr. Mel Davis, Rev. Brenda Ferree, Rees Griffiths, Esquire, Mark I. Jacobs, Timothy Klimchock, CPA, CCIFP, Eric Lau, Dr. Robert Lease, Jr. (chair), Dr. Annette Logan, Aimee Miller, Abel Santiago, Jr., Rob Tracy, and David Welber, CPA.

If you or someone you know are looking for an opportunity to serve your community in a meaningful way and might consider a position on Bell’s board of directors, please contact our executive director, Ike Hileman at 848-5767, ext. 500.