This month, 6 MADO Healthcare clients volunteered at Cornerstone Center of LaSalle Street Church. Their Breaking Bread Program provides food, fellowship and support to individuals and families who are hungry and without resources. One client volunteer, James, said that helping others “was the right thing to do.” Care manager, Kristen Smith, walked to Cornerstone with the clients from MADO Healthcare Old Town. There they joined other program volunteers in prepping food, setting up tables, serving the meal and cleaning up at the end. Volunteer Kris said, “I like to cook and I like helping folks.” Sharon, another MADO volunteer, added, “It kept me busy and gave me something meaningful to do.”
This volunteer opportunity was also a way for the larger community to understand that those living with a mental illness are capable and caring members of society. It was a chance to help others know and understand people with a diagnosed mental illness and destigmatize common misconceptions. MADO client and Cornerstone volunteer, Greenie, beamed with pride after the afternoon’s work saying, “I wanted to show that those with mental illness can do things and contribute just like everybody else. I did it for MADO!” All of our clients were proud to give back to the community and MADO is proud of their ability and desire to do so. MADO is proud to state that meal prep and service with Cornerstone’s Breaking Bread program will now be a monthly volunteer opportunity for clients of MADO Healthcare.