Girls Inc. Eureka! Scholars to Raise Awareness of Homelessness, Mental Health with Bake Sale

HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley’s Eureka! Midways — a group of rising 10th graders who are passionate about bettering the lives of others in their communities — are holding a bake sale on Friday, July 21 at two locations in Western Mass. to raise awareness about homelessness and mental health.

The events will take place at Stop & Shop on Memorial Drive in Chicopee from 9 to 11 a.m., and 6 Open Square Way in Holyoke from 2 to 4 p.m. They aim to raise awareness about houselessness and mental health and raise funds for Clinical & Support Options (CSO). The scholars will also accept donations of gently used clothing and new and unopened toiletries and hygiene products.

“We have seen how detrimental it can be for a community to not have adequate access to mental-health resources and safe housing,” Girls Inc. Eureka! scholars, Jade, Abby, and Kai said. “We are utilizing our time in the Girls Inc. Eureka! program to bring awareness and collect donations to support the mental health and houseless communities.”

When the scholars were learning about homelessness, they also learned how connected it can be to mental health, which is why they chose to focus on both issues and support CSO, an organization that also focuses on both challenges.

The reason the scholars are hosting this bake sale is because many people across the globe suffer with mental-health issues and houselessness. The scholars believe these issues are not talked about enough and hope their efforts can make a change in the community and its perception of these challenges.

Donations of cash and checks will also be accepted to support CSO.