ESCANABA — Bay College is partnering up with a medical center to send cards to veterans during National Suicide Awareness Month.

The event will take place at the Escanaba campus in the library on Thursday from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Eastern time and again at the Iron Mountain campus in the lower commons on Sept. 26 from 12:30 to 2:30 Central Time.

Communication Instructor at Bay, Dr. Renee Strom, said coordinators from the Oscar G. Johnson VA in Iron Mountain reached out to see if Bay would partner with them for this event.

“My husband, Thad, is the associate director at the VA, and I have taught communication at Bay for the last six years, so I was a natural contact point for them,” Strom said.

She said that Bay is a designated veteran-friendly campus, so the partnership was a perfect way to help veterans in the community.

“I loved the idea of the event because caring contacts to those in distress has a lot of science behind it showing reduction in suicidal thoughts,” Strom said.

Those attending will make homemade cards included in care packages sent out to Veterans for National Suicide Awareness Month. Anyone can come to the event to help out.

“Both events are drop-in events, which means Bay faculty, staff, students and members of the community can stop by for as little or as long as they like during the events to make homemade cards that will be sent to veterans,” she said.

Attendees are free to decorate the card how they want or use templates provided.

They are asking for anyone who stops to include a handwritten message to provide support to veterans.

The cards are part of the care packages that go to local veterans at the end of the month.

“The hope is these care packages will provide a positive experience and let our veterans know they are not alone,” Strom said.

Strom encourages the public to come out and help those veterans who need it.

“Stopping by to make just one card with a handwritten note can be so helpful and encouraging to someone who is struggling. It is going to be a fun event where people can be creative while supporting the veterans in our community,” she said.