You can help NAMI Piedmont Tri-County bring hope and support to those with mental illnesses through your donations.
NAMI Piedmont Tri-County offers the understanding that only those with the lived experience of mental illness can provide. Together with our grassroots volunteers, we work every day to provide help and hope to our local community. In 2022, your donation will be used to provide free programming and community education programs at The Hut and in the local Chester, Lancaster, and York County Communities.

NAMI Piedmont Tri-County works to equip and train grassroots volunteers who provide individual and family support groups and classes to our city and the upstate.

Donate with confidence: Click here for our GUIDESTAR Report

We earned a 2021 Silver Seal of Transparency! Learn more about our organization’s
impact through the link above on @CandidDotOrg

You can donate to NAMI Piedmont Tri-County through credit/debit card or by check.

NAMI Piedmont Tri-County works directly with those who have mental illness and their families to help them overcome mental illness. NAMI Piedmont Tri-County also works to end the negative stigma surrounding mental illness in our society.

The Drop-In Center is funded by donations. This physical location provides a safe, supportive, and normalizing environment for Individuals labeled "mentally III" in this community, especially those who are isolated in society and for those whose employment settings are not available or meeting their needs. Our intention is to provide an atmosphere of acceptance where individuals have purpose and where one is able to grow in self-worth, dignity, and self-respect.

The drop-in center is intended simply as a place to just be. We offer activities focused on fostering relationships and personal empowerment in an environment of acceptance and community. Offering opportunities to build personal confidence and a community rapport. This is a place where no one passes judgment, diagnoses, or medicates. Individuals are invited to visit at will and find their community of support, compassion, self-esteem, and acceptance.

Your Contribution to NAMI Piedmont Tri-County is tax-deductible as provided by law.  NAMI is a nonprofit 501 (C) (3) organization.

2021 Highlights

Weekly Connection Support Group – 1,002 members with 109 as first-time attendees. (72 Registered Zoom participants).

Weekly Family Support Group – 694 with 109 first-time attendees (62 registered Zoom participants).

Monthly Parent and Family Support for those under 22:   28 registered Zoom participants.

LGBTQIA+ - 17 registered Zoom participants.

Suicide Survivor Support Group - 13 registered Zoom participants.

Family to Family 8-week course - 16 Graduates.

Basics Class - 6-week virtual class - 7 Graduates.

Support and Education: 1, 777 participants directly impacted by these free education classes and support groups.

Additional Impacts in 2021

Opened our doors at the Drop-In Center, space for 26 group members to congregate with COVID restrictions.

Continue to maintain a large, up-to-date resource page on our website for mental health and wellness management including topics such as "obtaining guardianship or conservatorship", "Mental Health laws for South Carolina", as well as maintaining resources focused on basic needs such as housing and food.

The 8th Annual NAMI Walks for 1 in 4 Piedmont Tri-County took place on October 9, 2021. We were grateful to host 225 Participants and 34 teams coming together in Cherry Park to show support for our community, ending the stigma and supporting mental health and education programming in Chester, Lancaster, and York County.

In May, we distributed over 1000 information packets and green ribbons across the counties of Chester, Lancaster, and York for the #GreenRibbonCampaign to raise awareness and encourage people to start a conversation about mental health.

In 2021 we distributed close to 5,000 crisis packs in the community. These packets contain information cards for Emergency Crisis Numbers and Contacts, Crisis Planning Checklist, Self Care and anxiety relief cards, "Speaking to Someone in a Mental Health Crisis" communication cards, as well as a green wristband with the website address for resources.

Back2School Bash - donated 450 Notebooks with crisis number stickers for middle school and 1200 informational packets for high school students.

Sullivan Middle School - donated 800 informational packets and lanyards to students for mental health awareness month.

Continued our monthly In Our Own Voice adult presentations in Lancaster County SC.

Attended health fairs and public events in both Lancaster and York Counties.

Hosted NAMI SC who presented Crisis Intervention Training to both local community health personnel as well as Lancaster and Rock Hill Police Departments.

Lancaster Rotary Club presentations (lunch and learns).

Corporate lunch and learns both in-person and via webinars to reach the communities of Chester, Lancaster, York Counties, and beyond.

Presentations to the community and faith-based organizations including a candlelight vigil in Fountain Park for World Mental Health Awareness Day.

South Carolina Community of Care Partnership, enabling  NAMI Piedmont Tri-County to offer a "Teen Trauma-Informed Suicide Prevention" training class to community organizations.

Collaborative and community-based meetings and memberships.

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT

Our messaging is informational, intentionally local, and directed to those who are looking for support, mental health education, and practical solutions to help manage their mental wellness at home or in their community, 68% of our social media user demographic is local to Chester, Lancaster, and York counties.

"A majority of Americans say they use YouTube and Facebook, while the use of Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok is especially common among adults under 30." (Paw Research group. 2021).

YouTube 3,984 Unique views on our educational programs and webinar offerings.

Instagram Reach 59,886

Facebook Page Reach 55,719

Twitter (Monthly Average) 1.5K impressions.

LinkedIn.

RECENT QUOTES FROM VOLUNTEERS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN SUPPORT OF NAMI PIEDMONT TRI-COUNTY

“When I began volunteering with NAMI Piedmont Tri-County, I went in with the mindset that I wanted to help others. I wanted to make sure that people like myself didn’t feel alone. While I feel like I accomplished that, something even greater happened that I never saw coming. Speaking to students and having them accept me and express their empathy after hearing my story, helped me to heal and find confidence in who I am.” Kaitlyn Buchko – Ending the Silence presenter to our Tri-County teens, school staff, and families.

 

“Hey guys!!! Thank you so much for everything. All the tips from class really helped. I was sad signing off today because I know I won’t see everybody next week.” – Molly, NAMI Piedmont Tri-County Family-to-Family, 8-session, Evidence-based course May 2021 testimonial.

 

“LPL is grateful to have worked in partnership with NAMI Piedmont Tri-County on multiple web events to bring their informed, current, and relevant expertise into our workplace. What NAMI brings to LPL, we, in turn, bring back to our families and into the community. We hope to partner together for future events!” – LPL Financial

 

“Our staff really appreciates the training that we get for the CIT through NAMI, and we are also in discussions now about expanding that program throughout the agency. Our goal is always to have every patrol officer go through 35 hours of the NAMI class and we will continue to strive to make that happen.” Lancaster Sherrif’s Office – Sheriff Barry Faile (CIT is Crisis Intervention Training through NAMI South Carolina partnering with NAMI Piedmont Tri-County)

 

“NAMI Piedmont Tri-County has been an amazing asset to me and our community of people living with mental health challenges. Through NAMI, I was able to guide my own recovery journey from patient to self-advocacy and onward to advocating for others.” - CJ O’Lenick, PhD

 

“NAMI Piedmont Tri-County has given me an unconditionally loving family. One that understands and accepts me as I am-- no matter what kind of mood or anxiety I am experiencing.” - Veronica Morris, PhD

 

“Without NAMI Piedmont Tri-County I would have been lost. When I began seeking help for my then kindergartner, I was confused, scared, and fighting to get services to help our family. I reached out to NAMI Piedmont Tri-County and not only found a shoulder to cry on, but I also learned invaluable information. After taking a BASICS class, I have been able to get my child the services they need. Yes, I still use the information I learned in that class so long ago, and after losing both my brother in 2011 and my father in law in 2020 to suicide, because of NAMI and all the support I receive, I have been able to cope through these life-changing events and become a passionate advocate for those who live with mental illness.” – Kati, Parent, Marketing Outreach Coordinator for NAMI Piedmont Tri-County

 

“My disorders made it impossible to do something as simple as read a sentence on a page, but if there is one thing I learned, it is the importance of support. I found my supportive networks at NAMI. They understand mental illness.” MM – Rock Hill

 

“I wanted to thank you for all your advice and help. You have been a lifesaver. I don’t know that he would have started the process without your guidance. Thank you again! – Caller for support, June 2021

 

“During the ten years that I’ve worked with NAMI Piedmont Tri-County, I’ve been amazed at the range of support and educational services they provide to our community. They fill a void in our community and have truly driven the momentum of better advocacy for mental health and wellness.” - Wakita D. Barksdale, President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omega Tau Omega Chapter.