Fillmore Fire Department to Raise $2,500 for NAMI Ventura County Walk
On Saturday, May 14th, Fillmore Fire Department held a booth at the Health & Wellness Resource Fair to raise awareness and funds for the NAMI Ventura County Walk to Support Mental Health Awareness. Help support them in their efforts to raise $2,500 for Mental Health Awareness! To donate use this link https://www.namiwalks.org/team/49852. Pictured (l-r): Maya Zumaya, Co-Founder of First Responder for Mental Health Initiative, Fillmore Fire Chief Keith Gurrola, Fillmore Fire Captain Billy Gabiel, Engineer Jason Arroyo and Firefighter Steven Gallatin in their team shirts.
On Saturday, May 14th, Fillmore Fire Department held a booth at the Health & Wellness Resource Fair to raise awareness and funds for the NAMI Ventura County Walk to Support Mental Health Awareness. Help support them in their efforts to raise $2,500 for Mental Health Awareness! To donate use this link https://www.namiwalks.org/team/49852. Pictured (l-r): Maya Zumaya, Co-Founder of First Responder for Mental Health Initiative, Fillmore Fire Chief Keith Gurrola, Fillmore Fire Captain Billy Gabiel, Engineer Jason Arroyo and Firefighter Steven Gallatin in their team shirts.
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, May 19th, 2022

The First Responders for Mental Health (FRMH) initiative was a huge success, and we are excited to invite past and new supporters to come together to make an even bigger impact for mental health awareness in our county.

Last year the FRMH initiative brought together over 30 organizations across the county that raised approximately $68,000, hosted 15 events and participated in a county-wide PSA to raise awareness. The impact this initiative had on our community was tremendous. Fillmore City Councilmember shares, "I am super proud that the City of Fillmore participated in this initiative and have since moved forward with the first ever annual Mental Health Resource Fair."

Your support is vital. Port Hueneme Councilmember Misty Perez and co-founder of the initiative shares, "This initiative brought awareness to the issues our first responders have to deal with every day and showed the holes in the system and the need for more programs, partnerships and funding." Your support not only helps us provide services for over 5000 individuals annually it also allows us to advocate for such issues.

This is a countywide campaign to educate, fundraise, and raise awareness in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Port Hueneme Councilmember Misty Perez and Oxnard Assistant Chief of Police Denise Shadinger will be this year's FRMH Ambassadors and NAMI Ventura County Walk Honorary Chairs. We are excited to announce that this year the walk will return to an in person walk hosted by the City of Port Hueneme. The NAMI Ventura County Kick-off and 40-year anniversary will be held March 19 and the Walk will be held May 21. In addition to the walk there are many ways to help raise awareness across our county.

For more information & questions email Maya Zumaya at M.zumaya7@live.com or call 805-767-7569.