With the current COVID 19 virus and physical distancing, many summer youth programs will not be held in our community during 2020. This will leave some families struggling to provide opportunities for youth during the summer months which can add to stress levels among parents/caregivers and for the youth themselves. Finding ways to connect and have fun together can help youth and families manage stress and enjoy the summer months. To provide options for parents/caregivers, the Healthy Minds Coalition is partnering with Kinship of Tomahawk, T.B. Scott Library, Tomahawk Library and the UW-Madison Division of Extension 4-H program to provide free “Summer Fun Project Packs” for each month this summer. Funded by Ascension Good Samaritan Hospital and Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, the bags will be filled with youth-family educational activities including mental health, nutrition, STEM, craft and reading activities along with supplies to complete the activities.
“The Library is pleased to help distribute the “Project Packs” to the community via curb-side delivery,” said Carolyn Forde, Youth Librarian for T.B. Scott Library. The library began distributing packs the week of May 18th. Please contact T.B. Scott Library via phone 715-536-7191 to make an appointment to pick up a pack. Forde added, “We would also like to invite families to read together this summer as a way to relax and to continue learning. Registration for our online reading program will begin the second week in June. Visit the T. B. Scott Library web site at www.tbscottlibrary.org for more information.”
The “Summer Fun Project Packs” will also be available in the Tomahawk area beginning the second week of June from Kinship of Tomahawk and the Tomahawk Library. Patti Hilgendorf, Executive Director for Kinship of Tomahawk shared “that since Safer at Home started, Kinship of Tomahawk has been trying to include activities and messages in our weekly distribution of food bags as well as sending things through the mail to reach all of our 81 KinsKids. Our Kinship parents have expressed that their kids are getting restless and bored, so we have been trying to send them some fun activities. I am hopeful that families will take advantage of these packs to spend quality time as a family having fun and learning together. Kinship is extremely grateful to this group for putting these packs together to support our families and to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital for covering the cost of the packs.” The “Project Packs” will be included in Kinship food distribution bags, but any Kinship family who would like to reserve a pack can contact Patti at 715-966-0996.
“We are excited to be distributing the “project packs” for June, July, and August, however supplies are limited. Please contact us to make a curbside appointment by phone 715-453-2455, M-F 1:00 pm-5:00 pm.”said Heidi O’Hare, Director for Tomahawk Public Library.Our summer library program “Dragons, Dreams, and Daring Deeds” will have fun reading challenges, great activities, and badges. Readers of all ages can easily register as individuals, families or as a school/daycare group by phone or our website for Beanstack starting June 22, 2020 (www.tomahawkpl.beanstack.org or download the Beanstack Tracker app). O’Hare added, “On Monday, June 8, 2020 at 10:00 am Ms. Annette will be on Facebook live reading “Dragon was Terrible” by Kelly DiPucchio and Greg Pizzoli. During the event she will invite everyone to participate in a community-wide activity for the month of June.” Information will be on our website http://www.tomahawk.lib.wi.us, through curbside appointments, and Facebook.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by COVID-19 and need support, contact the SAMHSA Disaster Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. If you find you are overwhelmed or having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, reach out for help right away. Text HOPELINE to 741741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
For local help with physical, financial and the social implications of this current health crisis, visit https://lincoln.extension.wisc.edu/public-health-emergencies/.
The Resilient Wisconsin Initiative provides tools and resources to Wisconsinites who are dealing with stress and mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, go to https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/resilient.htm.
This is a rapidly evolving situation. If you have questions or immediate needs related to COVID-19, call 211 or text COVID-19 to 211-211. For the latest information, visit Lincoln County Health Department’s website at https://co.lincoln.wi.us/covid19 or follow us on Facebook.
Healthy Minds for Lincoln County is a part of Live Well Lincoln, a collaborative that strives to promote partnerships within the community to improve health through advocacy, prevention and implementation of best practices. To learn more about Healthy Minds for Lincoln County visit welllincoln.org.