24 APRIL 2022 By Rachael Bouley Two Arcadia sisters are turning a dark path into a light at the end of the tunnel by starting a fundraiser that supports Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Created by Elizabeth Birch and Christina Ramirez, the inaugural Peace of Mind 5K Run/Walk is set for Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Arizona Falls. Birch and Ramirez invite the local community to get involved in a cause that benefits social, emotional and mental health support for both adults and youth. After moving to Arcadia from Goodyear in 2019, Elizabeth and her family fell in love with the neighborhood. That sense of community prompted an idea for an event that would raise awareness for mental health. “The idea came from my passion for giving back to those affected by everyday social-emotional challenges,” Elizabeth said. “Growing up and not knowing how to manage my feelings quickly led to a path of addiction during my teens. The support of my family was imperative in my recovery, and I am immensely grateful for them.” Learning from these challenges left Elizabeth feeling empowered and passionate about making resources more available for those who may not be as fortunate, which also resonates with her sister. “Elizabeth has always had this vision to create a fundraiser/fun run to help bring positive awareness toward mental health,” Christina said. “There is such a stigma around it, and this vision was to bring more light and positive solutions to the topic.” Having worked in education for over a decade, the pair was inspired by ongoing conversations about students’ and teachers’ mental health, noting that it’s tough for people to thrive without stability. “These conversations have also translated over to our community, and how if mental health doesn’t get addressed early on, it just ends up being this perpetual cycle of unresolved trauma, untreated symptoms and eventually long-lasting issues,” Christina said. “We are both motivated and passionate to help bridge this gap by supporting youth and adults, as everyone deserves peace of mind, body and soul.” The sisters aren’t fazed by their first time directing a 5K, either, and plan to make it an annual event in Arcadia. “It has been a fun journey. We have surprisingly been learning a lot more about each other and growing together throughout this unfamiliar planning phase,” Christina said. “In a lot of ways, it’s brought us closer and we have a newfound respect for each other’s strengths.” The duo hopes to see a strong turnout of local participants and supporters, as half of the funds raised will benefit the Choose Love Movement, which provides a free social- emotional curriculum for schools. The other half will fund scholarships for preventative and treatment programs, which are out of reach for many people without the financial means or insurance coverage. Elizabeth and Christina agree that while they don’t know what to expect from their first event, they are grateful for the support and interest they’ve received so far and said that it’s an honor to support people as they make positive changes in their journeys. Find a little peace of mind with this Arcadia fun run Co-creators Elizabeth Birch and her sister, Christina Ramirez. PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH BIRCH WHO: All ages are welcome. WHAT: The first annual Peace of Mind 5K. WHERE: Arizona Falls, 5802 E. Indian School Road. WHEN: May 7, 2022, 7:30 a.m. start time. HOW: Registration is $35 at raceroster.com PEACE OF MIND 5K By Sabrina Proffitt Feeding Students USA is a nonprofit dedicated to providing nutrition and meals to families in need around the Valley. They host a weekend produce pop-up, a weekend lunch program, and distribute emergency food boxes – but one of their most successful programs is their food pantry. In their efforts, FSUSA often partners with Arizona schools, businesses and volunteers to collect food in order to stock the pantries, and Tavan Elementary students got the chance to help this past February during a special day: 2.22.22. The school hosted the “2.22.22 Feeding Students USA Donation Drive” and celebrated not only the donations, but the palindrome (a word, phrase or sequence that reads the same backward and forward) itself, by dressing in tutus and ties. The school collected over 700 items, including canned vegetables and fruits, soups, milk, chicken and tuna, cereal, peanut butter, reusable grocery bags and other pantry safe items. Students Luciana, Dior, Pablo and Max – second graders in Ms. DeVenuto’s class – all had the same feeling after participating: “We felt very kind and happy, and really nice on the outside. The drive made us feel like good people,” they said. Fourth-grader Joelle shared the sentiment: “I donated to the food drive because people need food and water to survive. It made me feel good because I’m helping people who don’t have enough,” he said. Founder and chairman of FSUSA, Joni Sucato, said they were honored to help and be helped. “We have partnered with Tavan for the last six years,” Sucato said. “They are so gracious and wonderful. Our main goal and mission are to make sure that no student comes to school hungry or that they have enough food in their pantry for lunch and dinner at night.” Vice president of Tavan PTO Cheri Pierce echoed the mission of the FSUSA pantry, citing that it is important all year-round. “People will donate around the holidays – which is great – but our community tries to support this organization throughout the year,” Pierce said. “Tavan has needed financial help in the past, and because of this, we believe in giving back to the community in any way we can. I want to shine the light that Tavan has taken some help along the way, and now we’re giving back.” Tavan and FSUSA will partner up again in May for another food drive. feedingstudentsusa.org Wearing ties and tutus to help make a difference These students picked out their own ties and tutus to partake in the 2.22.22 donation event. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHERI PIERCE