It's warming up in Cleveland, which means Metro45 Mobile Kitchen & Catering is back! Click the link below to visit the food truck at a location near you throughout the month of May or to book the truck for your next event.

Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted recently signed a proclamation designating May as Foster Care Month in the State of Ohio. Foster Care Month highlights the need to take a holistic and culturally responsive approach to support the mental health needs of those involved with child welfare.

At LMM, our Youth Resiliency Services program is considered a licensed group home for youth in the foster care system and oftentimes serves as substitute caregivers within the foster care system, specifically through our Youth Shelter and Independent Living Continuum.

Meet Laura Romberg, a biology professor at Oberlin College and volunteer at the Men's Shelter Computer Lab. Her pragmatic science teacher’s mind suits her well for instructing shelter residents in the lab since 2019.

Laura feels called to help the wider community and it shows in her no-nonsense dedication. Being wheelchair-bound, Laura reflects, “I identified the computer position because I was looking for volunteer work where my physical disabilities didn’t matter. But I’ve been surprised how well it’s suited me in so many ways. Working with the men is very like working with all my other students - different personalities and different needs, and it’s my job to help them with whatever their goals happen to be. Some only need technical help; some want to tell me their life story. It’s usually a true exchange. The men are so gracious, eager to help me with physical things that I can’t do myself, and interested in getting to know me. I look forward to connecting with the men each week.”

Above is a letter from an individual participating in LMM's Friend-To-Friend (F2F) program, which matches volunteers with individuals currently incarcerated at local correctional institutions to have visits, write cards back and forth to one another, and establish friendships.

We're thankful for volunteers like Korin and Cathey, who help brighten the days of individuals facing challenging times in their lives. At just a two-hour per month time commitment, Friend to Friend offers a life-changing experience for both volunteers and participants and creates lasting friendships in the process.

"About two in five people currently incarcerated have a history of mental illness — a rate twice as high as the average in this country — and they often don’t have access to adequate mental health care, if any, while justice-involved." - National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Click here to learn more about the impacts of reentry on mental health. Click here to learn more about LMM's advocacy priorities, which include smoothing the reentry process for returning citizens.

Give LMM a follow on our social media platforms for #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth updates and resources.

To support the mission and programs of LMM, donate today!