Needs Statement

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that in the state of Virginia about 298,000 adult Virginians have a serious mental illness. Symtpoms may affect these individuals ability to work or care for themselves. An estimated 26.2% of adults, about 1 in 4, experience a diagnosable mental disorder every year. About 6%, or 1 in 17, has a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder.

Individuals with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk of depression and depression increases healthcare use and expenditures amoung individuals with chronic disease. A number of studies have shown that adults with common medical disorders have high rates of depression and anxiety and by participating in social activies such as engaging in conversation and going to places like the movies, museums, or out for coffee, people with mental ilness feel less isolated, stigmatized, and anxious.

Conventional medical treatments for the mentall ill are proven more effective when supplemented with social support from family, friends and the community. Increased social interaction helps the mentally ill to rebuild their confidence and self-esteem which in turn enables them to develop positive family relationships and friendships. This increased mental stability also helps the community as a whole.

Community Needs Project

Project Support has learned that there is a huge need in SW Virginia due to our parent company working with people in our community with both Physical and Intellectual Disbilities as well as chronic mental health issues. Project Support realized so many people in our community fall through the cracks of being underinsured, uninsured or over insured to qualify for Mental Health Skill Building Services. Project Support was created to fill that void and to help everyone in our community that are in dire need.

We have already been able to use donated funds to help mother's feed their children, supply school suppliesm provide formula and diapers, pay utility bills that were overdue, and have helped pay several deposits for housing for community members to avoid homelessness. We have also been able to fund members of the community to attend Support System's Pyscho-social VIP Program thus allowing them to socialize with their peers which is much-needed therapy for people with Intellectual Disabilities or Mental Health issues.

​Ways to Give​

Are you wanting a simple way to give back to the community without having to actually give money? Project Support is apart of Kroger's Community Rewards Program and it's very easy to sign up. To link your Kroger Plus Card follow the instructions bellow (our non-profit's organization number is 81154) ....

**Please remember that this will NOT affect your gas points in any way. Thank you for your continued support!**

Instructions:
- Click on Sign In/Register
- Click on My Account and use your email addr...ess and password to proceed to the next step.
- Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number.
- Update or confirm your information.
- Enter NPO number or name of organization, select organization from list and click on confirm.
- To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side of your information page.

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and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.