Support group extends helping hand to women facing challenges
NORWICH – May is Mental Health Month and the WHEELS support group is taking the opportunity to invite Chenango County women to learn more about how they can help.
WHEELS, or Women Healing, Encouraging, Enriching, Living, Supporting, is a volunteer support group for women age 18 and over which focuses on dealing with a variety of issues and challenges.
The group meets 1 to 3 p.m. every Wednesday at Catholic Charities in Norwich and is open to any woman facing challenges.
“We started just dealing with mental health disorder, but we’re now open to any woman with issues they want to share,” said Lisa Thornton, board member and one of the founding members of the group. “When we began a year and a half ago we only had two people and have since increased to 20 ... 10 have come on board just in the last six months.”
Thornton said the program is more than just a support group. Members accompany each other to doctor’s appointments and plan group activities outside of meetings, including shopping trips and karaoke.
“We’re a group of friends,” she said.
Although there is no formal process for joining the group, Thornton said the board prefers to meet with interested individuals in order to make sure the program will be beneficial.
“We meet with you and ask to come to a meeting ... we’ve never turned someone away,” she said.
In addition to meetings and social activities, the group organizes a variety of fundraisers in the area over the course of the year. In particular, the women have adopted the All Animals Matter and Little Mews Adoption as their “pet projects.”
Workshops are held every 3-4 months with guest speakers from a variety of organizations. Among those invited in the past are social services representatives, the Southern Tier AIDS Organization, CDO and the Wildlife Conservatory.
“We choose speakers who will provide useful or interesting information to the group,” said Thornton.
The program also prints a newsletter, titled W.O.W, or Women of WHEELS, updating members and other interested organizations on the progress of the group.
Thornton pointed out that members “come from all walks of life” and anyone can join.
“We want women to know that their background shouldn’t hold them back,” she said. “Also, everything is highly confidential ... anything that is said in the meetings will remain there.”
WHEELS is currently trying for a 501c classification, or not-for-profit status, with the help of the Empowerment Center, a state-run organization located in Albany. Thornton said the agency became aware of the group six months ago when representatives attended a support group meeting at the Leilani Drive, Norwich building.
She said since that time the agency has “nurtured the group along.”
“Mostly we just try to laugh and have a good time and take care of each other,” concluded Thornton.
Women interested in learning more about the support group can e-mail wheels13815@yahoo.com or contact Thornton at 226-4481 for more information.
WHEELS, or Women Healing, Encouraging, Enriching, Living, Supporting, is a volunteer support group for women age 18 and over which focuses on dealing with a variety of issues and challenges.
The group meets 1 to 3 p.m. every Wednesday at Catholic Charities in Norwich and is open to any woman facing challenges.
“We started just dealing with mental health disorder, but we’re now open to any woman with issues they want to share,” said Lisa Thornton, board member and one of the founding members of the group. “When we began a year and a half ago we only had two people and have since increased to 20 ... 10 have come on board just in the last six months.”
Thornton said the program is more than just a support group. Members accompany each other to doctor’s appointments and plan group activities outside of meetings, including shopping trips and karaoke.
“We’re a group of friends,” she said.
Although there is no formal process for joining the group, Thornton said the board prefers to meet with interested individuals in order to make sure the program will be beneficial.
“We meet with you and ask to come to a meeting ... we’ve never turned someone away,” she said.
In addition to meetings and social activities, the group organizes a variety of fundraisers in the area over the course of the year. In particular, the women have adopted the All Animals Matter and Little Mews Adoption as their “pet projects.”
Workshops are held every 3-4 months with guest speakers from a variety of organizations. Among those invited in the past are social services representatives, the Southern Tier AIDS Organization, CDO and the Wildlife Conservatory.
“We choose speakers who will provide useful or interesting information to the group,” said Thornton.
The program also prints a newsletter, titled W.O.W, or Women of WHEELS, updating members and other interested organizations on the progress of the group.
Thornton pointed out that members “come from all walks of life” and anyone can join.
“We want women to know that their background shouldn’t hold them back,” she said. “Also, everything is highly confidential ... anything that is said in the meetings will remain there.”
WHEELS is currently trying for a 501c classification, or not-for-profit status, with the help of the Empowerment Center, a state-run organization located in Albany. Thornton said the agency became aware of the group six months ago when representatives attended a support group meeting at the Leilani Drive, Norwich building.
She said since that time the agency has “nurtured the group along.”
“Mostly we just try to laugh and have a good time and take care of each other,” concluded Thornton.
Women interested in learning more about the support group can e-mail wheels13815@yahoo.com or contact Thornton at 226-4481 for more information.
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