Wondering Why Some Rivertowns Trees Have White Ribbons?

• The following article was written by Krista Madsen and posted by Dina Sciortino
  

Have you seen them around Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson and Irvington? 

The ribbons are part of a county-wide initiative from the Westchester division of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in celebration of Mental Health Awareness month.   

From their website:  

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

NAMI Westchester is excited to launch its first Mental Health Awareness Ribbon Campaign during the month of May 2013. White ribbons with our NAMI blue and gold logo will hang from the trees and lamp posts of 27 and counting cities, villages, and towns in Westchester and along Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich CT. Together with our walk, NAMI Westchester is joining a nation wide anti-stigma initiative.

We appreciate the robust endorsements from the City Managers, Mayors, Town Supervisors and Boards of Trustees of the following municipalities: Ardsley, Armonk, Bedford Hills, Bronxville, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Greenwich CT, Harrison, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Katonah, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, North White Plains, Ossining, Peekskill, Port Chester, Purchase, Rye, Rye Brook, Scarsdale, Tarrytown, Town of Mamaroneck, West Harrison, White Plains, Yonkers, Yorktown and the list keeps growing.

We are grateful to Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health and The Volunteer Center of the United Way. Please check back frequently to see the latest municipalities to join our ribbon campaign.

Look up in May: the trees or lamp posts in your town may be aglow in white, spreading the word that there is hope for recovery from mental illness when we combat the stigma that prevents people from getting treatment.    

They held a fundraising walk on May 18 in Rye but would like people to know they are still accepting donations. Contact: namiwalks@namiwestchester.org or 914-592-5458.