A Tattoos4Trauma 2023 fundraising project & men’s mental health event
Tattoos4Trauma (T4T) will be holding a local fundraising event, September 9, 2023, to raise awareness build community, and provide support for initiatives dedicated to mental health awareness, in particular men’s mental health, and to support street-level respite for those most in need in Northumberland County.
This year the money raised will go towards a Northumberland Warming Hub and the work done by Northumberland County social services and their partners.
“The Northumberland Warming Hub is an essential service for vulnerable residents seeking shelter from the cold during the winter months,” says Northumberland County Director of Community and Social Services Lisa Horne. “It provides an additional safe space in our community where, during the overnight hours, people can rest and access washrooms and light refreshments. It then also serves as a hub for support agencies to connect with people during daytime hours. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to direct donations from this year’s Tattoos4Trauma event to enhancing operations and further ensuring a warm and welcoming space for our neighbours in need.”
Providing proceeds from this year’s event to the Northumberland Warming Hub meets the core values of Tattoos4Trauma, an annual fundraiser dedicated to the need to raise awareness around the men’s mental health crisis, build community for those experiencing trauma and provide support by funding street level initiatives.
Backing this initiative are Tattoos4Trauma co-founders: Sue Glover and Theresa Rickerby.
“Supporting the Northumberland Warming Hub is the right decision for Tattoos4Trauma this year. As the number of those experiencing homelessness continues to rise in our community, we wanted to put our money towards a project that would have an immediate impact this winter. We feel strongly that one cannot recover without security and that includes a place to lay your head and the knowledge that you will have something to eat. The ability to connect with one’s community is vital to anyone dealing with trauma and we are pleased that this year’s Warming Hub will include community volunteer engagement. We are excited to support the work being done by Northumberland County social services and their partners for an expanded Warming Hub for our community this year. ”
Tattoos4Trauma was born out of the loss of Sue’s son and Theresa’s nephew David who died by suicide in August of 2020. At just 28 years old, David died struggling with housing insecurity, depression, anxiety, and substance use while dealing with trauma sustained as a child and again later in life.
Tattoos4Trauma’s inaugural event in Northumberland in 2022, sold out with over 400 people attending in support of men’s mental health. Toronto based tattoo supply company Mithra Mfg sponsored the supplies and local Cobourg tattoo studio Lucifer Ink donated the time and energy for their entire team to meet the demand, tattooing 108 people. Parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, best friends, grandparents, and neighbours were tattooed in honour of someone they love. Everyone who attended the event was a part of raising awareness, building community, and providing support for those in need.
This year’s event will take place on Saturday September 9, 2023, at the Cobourg Lions Community Centre from 10am to 5pm and will see additional artists, more entertainment, expanded resources and the ability for 150 tattoo appointments. Tattoo bookings open on July 15th.
For information on how you can participate in the Tattoos4Trauma event please follow on facebook and Instagram @tattoos4trauma or by email at tattoosfortrauma1991@gmail.com
