AAA Northeast Gifts $5,000 to MHA 

WEST SPRINGFIELD — AAA Northeast and its Pioneer Valley branches have again shown support for the Mental Health Association. 

Tammi Benson from the West Springfield branch presented a check for $5,000 on June 17 to the Springfield-based nonprofit whose services include helping the homeless secure housing, supporting those in recovery with substance use and mental health diagnoses, and working with the acquired brain injured and the developmentally disabled. 

“As the Charitable Giving Team Leader in the Pioneer Valley area, I brought a recommendation to our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Charitable Giving Team for MHA to be considered while they were considering agencies that addressed mental health,” Benson said. “Our AAA Northeast DEI Charitable Giving Team donated $2,500 as recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May and our local Charitable Giving Team voted to match that donation to total $5,000.” 

Kimberley Lee, vice president of Resource Development and Branding at MHA, said the donation will help MHA “meet the needs of those we serve that are not covered by other funding.” These may include personal care items, bedding or kitchen items for moving into an apartment or a computer for a return to school. 

“We are very grateful to AAA Northeast and its regional Charitable Giving Team as well as its local team headed by Tammi for their current and past support,” Lee said. “It is such support that enables MHA to be successful in its services and programs dedicated to helping everyone we work with achieve their best life.”