The event is scheduled in May during Mental Health Awareness Month to acknowledge and bring attention to the agencies and programs that allow for the possibility of hope and healing. Combined with lighthearted family-friendly activities, Hope Blooms will provide support and acknowledgment that it is sometimes okay to not be ok.

Several community partner agencies helped plan the event and will be in attendance to share resources. Agencies include the MetroWest Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Framingham Force, SPARK Kindness, Ashland DAET, the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, OUT MetroWest, Natick 180, LOSSTeam MetroWest, Parent Professional Advocacy League, Call2Talk, and Mass2-1-1.

Families are encouraged to join in and learn about local resources. Kid friendly activities will be available through the generosity of the following organizations.

• Rock painting with Spark Kindness

• Pets and People therapy dogs - Pets and People Foundation

• Cool Cow ice cream truck

• Framingham Public Libraries Bookmobile

• Face Painting at the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce table

• Call2Talk will provide gift bags to the first one hundred to check-in (one per family)

• Snacks, water, and additional treats donated by Wegmans will be available.

All attendees who check-in will be entered into a raffle to win a lovely garden gift basket and the first one hundred people to check-in will receive a gift bag with flower seeds to plant at home.

Although mental health is important to address year-round, May is Mental Health Awareness Month and provides a dedicated time for people, organizations, and communities to join their voices, provide resources, and share that there is hope, help, and healing.

Call2Talk would also like to bring attention to the United Way of Tri-County’s food security program in Framingham which provides groceries and hot meals to those in need in the MetroWest area, and their new community vegetable garden.

Call2Talk planted blooms in the garden last fall to pay respect to those lost to suicide. The garden design was created, and time was donated by Call2Talk volunteer Elizabeth Morrison Garden Design.