July 21 is the deadline for West County residents to donate gently-used items to the Rocky Peer 2 Peer Network to aid in its ongoing fundraiser initiatives.

After the weekend, donations will then be taken to Value Village’s FUNDrive initiative, which organizers say helped it raised nearly $1000 in 2023.

Dustyanne Evans, vice president of the Rocky Peer 2 Peer Network says the organization’s mission is to help those in the community with mental health and other issues with trained support people and referrals to other organizations.

Officials say it also offers anonymous, therapeutic, safe, and healthy public support meetings, outdoor recreational activities & events, and has a youth program in progress.

Deadline for donations at the Peer 2 Peer office (4821 49 St.) is July 21, at 8 p.m.

Items being collected:

• Men’s, women’s, children’s, and baby clothes, coats, shoes, scarves, shoes, handbags, wallets, fashion accessories, ties, belts, backpacks, & household textile items (such as bedding, comforters, blankets, sheets, towels, linen, tablecloths, curtains, pillows, etc.) in garbage bags.
• kitchen items (such as pots/pans, dishes, silverware, glasses, serving pieces and hand-held appliances), home decor, knick-knacks, toys, games, & small electronics in boxes.
• Books, VHS, DVDs, and other media.

 Officials ask that no large furniture, baby furniture and car seats, or other large miscellaneous items are donated.

All items must be clean and in sellable condition.

Evans says the Peer 2 Peer Network offers services tailored for the region, with local mental health specialists called ‘animators’

The original Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) programming would work well in big cities like Calgary and Edmonton, says Evans, but when it comes to smaller communities, it’s not one-size-fits-all. Now, with its new Rural Mental Health Project and the introduction of animators, facilitators can better address localized needs, says Evans.

For more information on the organization, residents can call or text 403-895-0553 or email at rockyp2pnetwork@gmail.com.