Rome Free Academy students Payton Calandra and Marley Thiesen recently volunteered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to help educate their peers about the importance of 988 Day.
Held annually on September 8 (9/8), 988 Day helps raise awareness and positive buzz about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline through a variety of creative activities spearheaded by communities, organizations, and individuals. Calandra and Thiesen volunteered their time by holding a tabling event during that day’s school lunch periods to help students and staff learn more about 988 Day and share available resources.
To further help spread awareness, Calandra has also created an RFA team for the upcoming AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk being held at Rome’s Bellamy Harbor Park this Sunday, September 20. Rome CSD students, staff, and families who would like to walk with the team can sign up through the AFSP website (search for "RFA" as the team name when registering).
For more information on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, please visit the 988 Lifeline website.