Licensed Mental Health Counselor Shaina Anderson joined Project HELP in 2005. She began her journey as a volunteer for people affected by rape, violence, sudden death and trauma. In 2006 she was brought on as an advocate for Project HELP and its efforts to support victims of traumatic events. Whilst passionately pursing the mission of the organization’s mission, Shaina continued her education. After receiving her Masters, Shaina continued to serve clients with counseling and therapy to include EMDR. Her success with trauma victims proved her value, earning her a promotion to Clinical Director. Shaina has diligently worked on enhancing the structure of Project HELP’s therapy program, today she offers clinical supervision to the Project HELP staff and interns from Florida Gulf Coast University. Shaina serves as an asset in all types of clinical and response situations. Executive Director Eileen Wesley boasts that Anderson serves as “second in command” continuing, “She is my right arm.” Shaina shows “passion beyond the stars” and her love for Project HELP shows in everything she does.

Mary Stuczynski has been a staple to the Project HELP organization since 1994, and with her dedication to callers in crisis, Mary became the lead volunteer in 2009. Mary’s responsibilities are not only working with individuals in crisis, but transferring of the HELPline to our volunteers. There is where she builds a rapport with each and every volunteer and updates them on needs of the HELPline, whether it’s talking with callers or scheduling. Not only is she efficient, but she is one of few who have received a 100% on the monitoring exam for HELPline grant accountability. Executive Director Eileen Wesley refers to Mary as, “a beautiful, compassionate, and giving human being and an unbelievable advocate and information sharer. She is an angel with wings!” Mary Stuczynski was the recipient of the prestigious Volunteer of the Year award presented by eBella in 2017. Even with the heartbreaking passing of her husband, Mary continued to give her time to Project HELP. Prior to starting every shift, Mary tells everyone in the office to “put your wings on.” There are not enough words to explain Mary’s support and love that she gives to our community!

Project HELP works with dignity and compassion to ease the pain of those who have been affected by rape, violence, crime, or loss of a loved one. This happened recently, Abraham, a young man who answered the HELPline 239-262-7227/800-329-7227 at Project HELP, found himself on the line with a young woman on the verge of taking her own life. Abraham was able to use his training to talk the woman down and remain on the line with her as she traveled to the hospital to get the treatment she so desperately needed. At a moment in which the woman felt so alone, she was able to lean on a complete stranger who offered his time.

All too often with our day to day lives we tend to get caught up with our own issues and do not stop to look at the people around us. Abraham, a young man from Florida Gulf Coast University, a college that provides interns to Project HELP, spends his time doing the exact opposite. In addition to taking the Safe Talk training, a suicide prevention course offered by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Abraham completed a total of 30 hours of online training and 8 hours of face to face training. It was the knowledge and understanding from these instructions that prepared the young man for this pivotal moment in that woman’s life.

After the event, the woman called Project HELP and said to Eileen Wesley, Executive Director of Project HELP, “The man on the HELPline saved my life.

Mental health is a serious issue in America. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 47,000 people fell victim to suicide. This makes it one of the leading causes of death in America. Project HELP is one organization that will not accept this statistic. As a growing organization, stories like the one above are becoming more prevalent. Project HELP is taking action to prevent suicide and assist survivors.