Each Friday, each Porter-Starke Services staff makes a small donation in order to dress casually that day. Those funds are collected and distributed to local non-profits through Porter-Starke Services’ “Casual for a Cause” program. Each year, the staff donates over $5,000 to a number of organizations including Hilltop Neighborhood House, First Contact, Immanuel Lutheran Food Pantry, and Mental Health America of Porter County.
The Casual for a Cause program looks to support groups and efforts that help promote mental wellness.
“We have a tremendous staff that recognizes the power of community and supporting worthwhile efforts,” said Bob Franko, Vice President of Development and Marketing. “So many of our partners and community members give to us, this is just a small way that we can show our appreciation through supporting others.”
Recently, the Casual for a Cause program made a donation to the Valparaiso Family YMCA’s Strong Kids campaign, a donation that was nominated by Kellie Pierce-Newton, Supported Employment Coordinator at Porter-Starke Services. Kellie’s husband, Tom Newton, is employed at the YMCA.
“That’s a great example of how personal relationships between providers allow us to get to know other programs and efforts, and recognize them, support them and even utilize them for our clients’ benefit,” Franko said.
Franko said one of his favorite times of the year is the months of October and November, when all of the Fridays in those months are dedicated to two particular causes.
“In October we dedicate all the Fridays to the local food pantries,” he said. “We collect several hundred dollars that are divided up amongst the pantries in the various communities we serve so that they can prepare for the holiday seasons.
“In November, we collect for the Mental Health America of Porter County’s GIFTLift program, a program where MHA collects donations and gifts for hundreds of individuals and families in the county,” Franko said. “Our staff also host a GIFTLift tree with tags of wanted items that is routinely picked clean and restocked several times through the season.”
This month, three Fridays are being dedicated to collecting funds for back-to-school items for a couple dozen families involved with Porter-Starke’s care who struggle supplying their children with all the necessities. Outpatient Therapist Amanda Wyatt and Children’s Case Manager Elizabeth Henney came up with the idea last year, and it has since become a yearly project.
“In reality our staff does little things like this all the time, very quietly and without fanfare,” said Rocco Schiralli, President/CEO. “But through the Casual for a Cause program, we can collectively help more people, more programs and involve more people in the process and make a positive impact.”
To learn more about the Casual for a Cause program or to nominate a charity you believe helps promote mental wellness, please call Bob Franko at (219) 476-4556 or email him at bfranko@porterstarke.org.