Suicide Prevention with K9 Support
BY AsphaltPro Staff
Manitowoc’s VERG hosts company-wide wellness event for suicide prevention fundraiser
In honor of Suicide Prevention Month this September and the many entities bringing awareness to the mental health wellness of the construction industry workforce, The Asphalt Pro reminds workers of a valuable national resource: the 988 hotline. If you’re in crisis, please call the national suicide and crisis lifeline at 988 or text “hello” to 741741. Skilled, trained counselors are available 24/7 to help you or a colleague.
Prior to September’s many events to raise awareness and offer support around the nation, one construction industry group held its second annual “Empowering Warriors & Raising Hope” event. Manitowoc employees united through this initiative to support K9s For Warriors, Ponte Vedra, Florida. The company’s Veteran Employee Resource Group led activities across its manufacturing plant in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania, its corporate office in Milwaukee, and all 17 MGX Equipment Services locations.
K9s For Warriors is a nonprofit that rescues shelter dogs and trains them as service dogs for veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder. The organization’s programs help veterans regain independence, confidence and hope while giving rescue dogs a second chance at life.
The Empowering Warriors & Raising Hope event centers around number 22, a tragic statistic reflecting that on average, 22 veterans die by suicide daily in the United States. This figure has been widely used to bring awareness and advocacy efforts to veteran suicide.
Employees and supporters also purchased 45 limited-edition “22” shirts, with proceeds benefiting K9s For Warriors. Employee contributions and branch fundraising generated just over $4,000, while the Manitowoc Foundation committed an additional $10,000, bringing the current contribution to more than $14,000.
“Empowering Warriors & Raising Hope gives our employees a meaningful way to come together in support of veterans and their families,” said Heather Monn, HR business partner and Manitowoc VERG chair. “The participation across Shady Grove, Milwaukee, and every MGX location shows how strongly our people believe in this cause. Whether they walked laps, packed backpacks, purchased a shirt, or made a donation, every contribution helped extend the impact of the campaign.”
If your organization is holding a seminar or event to raise awareness or to educate others in our industry about suicide prevention, pain management options or other mental health wellness topics, please reach out to sandy@theasphaltpro.com to have that event listed in our events calendar at theasphaltpro.com/suicideprevention.