Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 9-16-16 Online Edition

Local
Free Prayer Breakfast To Rally Community Support For Children
In Hillsborough County
Program To Draw Attention To Suicide Prevention
PLANT CITY – Local com- munities can make a differ- ence for children in their respective area. To that end, One Church One Child of Florida is partnering with the Eckerd Community Alterna- tives and Florida Department of Children and Families in ef- forts to rally the support of the faith community in Hillsbor- ough County to increase awareness of the critical need for families to adopt (provide a permanent home) and/or fos- ter (provide a temporary home) a child or sibling group of children waiting in the child welfare system.
Community members and leaders are invited to the free, informational Partnership Re- cruitment Prayer Breakfast from 9:30 a. m. to 11:30 a. m.,
DR. ARIE SAILOR
Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Bethel Baptist Church, 804 West Renfroe Street, Plant City, 33563.
Dr. Arie Sailor, Execu- tive Director of One Church One Child of Florida, added that linking partnerships or working together for children in these surrounding counties are very important to effecting positive change. “We want to connect any missing links (churches, individuals, groups,
organizations, businesses, etc.) willing to get involved and help bring hope to children and support for families. Re- member, every child deserves a home and family to call their own,” said Sailor.
Dr. Sailor noted that the event is part of the agency’s statewide ongoing efforts to in- form churches and the greater community of the opportunity to partner and collaborate in support of children and fami- lies in Florida.
For additional information about this event or to RSVP, please contact the One Church One Child Headquarters Office at 850.414.5620 or toll free at 1.888.283.0886 or email info@ococfl.org. The website for One Church One Child of Florida, Inc. is www.ococfl.org.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The month of September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. During the month, various or- ganizations sponsor programs to draw attention to the fact that suicide is preventable..
The month is designated as a time to promote resources and awareness around the is- sues prevention and providing assistance to those in crisis. In keeping with seeking to bring about awareness and to pro- mote prevention, Mrs. Dyeronda Gay will host “A Night of Poetry and Jazz.”
The event will take place on Saturday, September 17th, from 7:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. It will be held at 415 Woodmont Av- enue, in Temple Terrace, in the Woodmont Clubhouse.
The program is being hosted by LyRik, and will fea- ture live music and an Open Mic segment. All proceeds will benefit Mrs. Gay’s suicide prevention program entitled, “Circle of Completion, Inc.”
The organization came into existence after Mrs. Gay com- pleted her own journey, launched by the death of her father on February 7, 2011, that left the family devastated.
Mrs. Gay, who is legally blind, suddenly found herself trying to be a tower of strength for everyone as she battled her own demons.
She suffered in silence until
MRS. DYERONDA GAY ... Founder of Circle of Completion, Inc.
her depression led her to at- tempt to harm herself, and it was necessary for officials to Baker Act her.
Today, she reaches out to women and girls to offer help as they travel on their various journeys through depression. Her message is clear, “You can survive this and suicide is not the answer.”
Mrs. Gay is a certified life coach, a wife, a mother, a care- giver, minister, the First Lady of Macedonia M. B. Church in Zephyrhills, Rev. Adrian Gay, pastor, and a survivor..
She is inviting members of the community to come out and enjoy an evening of relaxa- tion while helping a worth- while cause.
According to statistics, no one is immune to thoughts of suicide. It affects people of all ages, genders, and back- grounds. In fact, statistics show that it is the third leading cause of death among young people.
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016