County to host community walk for mental health awareness
Ottawa County Veterans Services, in partnership with Ottawa County Community Mental Health, will host the Ottawa County Community Walk for Mental Health on Wednesday, May 20.
HOLLAND — Ottawa County Veterans Services, in partnership with Ottawa County Community Mental Health, will host the Ottawa County Community Walk for Mental Health on Wednesday, May 20.
Taking place 4-6 p.m. at the Park Township Historic Airport Hangar, 1269 Ottawa Beach Road in Holland, the event is in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Designed to bring people together, encourage open conversations around mental health, and connect individuals and families with local resources, the walk is open to the entire community, including residents, veterans, families and individuals of all ages.
The event will feature a community walk, opportunities to connect with local organizations, and guest speaker Andy O’Riley, a former radio personality and founder of O’Riley Media Group and The Muskegon Channel. O’Riley will share his personal journey and message of hope, recovery and resilience.
“I speak openly about my past struggles with addiction and a suicide attempt because isolation affects so many people,” O’Riley said. “My goal is to remind others they’re not alone, that someone has been there too, and that being perfectly imperfect is what makes us human.”
Several local organizations will be in attendance to provide information and engage with attendees, including FOB Ministries, Brain Treatment Center, Inclusive Empowerment Services, The Momentum Center, Holland Area Veterans Council, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Renew Therapeutic Riding Center, which will be bringing a special guest — a therapy horse named Hamlet — and more.
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Food trucks will also be on site throughout the event, including Slingin' Weenies, Ponchos Tacos and StrEATs Tacos, offering attendees a relaxed, community-focused atmosphere.
The Ottawa County Community Walk for Mental Health is free to attend and requires no registration. This is an outdoor event and is weather-dependent.
— Submitted by the Ottawa County Veterans Services. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
