October 1, 2024

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Virginia, or NAMI Virginia promotes mental health for all Virginians through support, education, and advocacy, and they support 15 local affiliates throughout the Commonwealth.

All of their services, including a statewide HelpLine, support groups, peer training, and more, are open to the public.

Their largest annual fundraiser, NAMIWalks Virginia, is taking place at Deep Run Park in Richmond on Saturday, October 26th from 10am-2pm.

Festivities include music, food, and crafts, with proceeds funding NAMI Virginia’s programs to ensure anyone seeking mental health support receives help and hope.

Gallery at First UU is Richmond’s longest-running juried fine arts and crafts show at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond. Their 57th year of Gallery is scheduled for October 23rd through October 27th. 

They invite you to come see over 4,000 works from over 160 local and regional artists including paintings, photographs, pottery, sculpture, furniture, jewelry, stained glass, and wearable art.

The Free Clinic of Central Virginia is a nonprofit in Lynchburg that aims to provide high-quality, compassionate, and comprehensive healthcare for every member of our community. 

Are you or anyone you know in Dental pain and cannot afford to go to the Dentist? Have you been to the Emergency Room for dental pain recently? Do you have Medicaid and don’t know where to go for your dental pain?

The Free Clinic of Central Virginia can help.

They have a dental program with a full-time dentist and rotating volunteer dentist who can help you with your dental pain. They offer a few early morning appointments and some limited evening appointments so that you do not have to miss work.

The Free Clinic serves those who are uninsured, under 250% of federal poverty level, or have Medicaid. More information is online at freeclinicva.org or by calling 434-847-5866.

The Shelter for Help in Emergency is a domestic violence agency that provides services to Charlottesville and the surrounding counties.

On Saturday, November 2nd, they’re hosting their annual 5K fundraiser, kicking off at 8am in front of Mudhouse Coffee on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.

On-site registration will be available, and all proceeds go towards helping support their services.

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is a nonprofit focused on community building and economic development in Downtown Harrisonburg.

Their organization uses events to bring people into the historic district while aiming to build lasting memories for attendees.

They invite you to their annual Skeleton Festival on Saturday, October 19th from 2-5 pm for Halloween-themed family-friendly fun.

SPARC, the School of Performing Arts in the Richmond Community is a youth-serving nonprofit with a mission to profoundly influence young people’s lives through exceptional performing arts education.

SPARC invites you to their production of Hadestown: Teen Edition, running November 15th through 17th, starring teens from across the Richmond area. This folk opera follows two intertwining love stories—that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of immortal King Hades and Lady Persephone. Hadestown: Teen Edition is a full-length adaptation of Anaïs Mitchell’s international phenomenon, Hadestown, modified for performance by teen actors for family audiences.

Tickets and more information are available online at sparcrichmond.org.