Interview with Judy McKendry: Community Outreach
Your Bridge editor Becky Hadden sat down with Judy McKendry on a recent Thursday afternoon to learn about her many years as the Community Outreach Coordinator. Her dedication to NAMI has been an anchor for her as well as the NAMI Central Middlesex Board. Judy is so easy to talk to—maybe one more reason why greeting people at an information table is right up her alley. If you join her at an info table, you’ll see for yourself!
Becky: What is your motivation for all the work you’ve done to build up our community outreach?
Judy: When people first enter their mental health journey, they don’t know about NAMI. We can help direct them to support and resources that are life-changing. We’re good listeners and people just feel safe coming over to talk. It feels so good to help them.
Becky: Are there any specific times that stand out in your memory?
Judy: One time in Bedford I met a woman whose husband was a veteran who suffered from PTSD. She felt so alone. I was able to direct her to our support group specifically for spouses. She was so grateful to learn a group like that existed!
Another conversation I remember was with a man who was so frustrated by difficulty in finding a proper therapist. We were able to direct him to the Compass, William James Interface, Psychology Today, and Therapy Matcher. He left our table feeling a bit more hopeful.
I love it when people come up to the table and just want to tell their story of recovery. They’re bursting with it all and know they have an empathetic, understanding ear in a NAMI member.
It’s amazing how many mental health professionals walk by and are drawn to our information. They learn a lot about what NAMI offers and then take it back to their clients.
Becky: How do you decide to set up an information table?
Judy: We been doing this so long, that we get requests from event planners all over the area. Regular events that we’re invited to are: Maynard Fest, Fifers Day in Boxborough, October Fest in Acton, Bedford Day, Waltham Mental Health Awareness, Springfest in Stow, Littleton Third Thursday, and Out of the Darkness Walks in Acton and Wakefield. In addition, we always set up an information table at NAMI Central Middlesex educational events like the College Panel in March and the Faith Communities & Mental Health workshops.
Sara Dodd, a NAMI member, a F2F leader, and a happy Central Middlesex information table greeter.
Becky: What’s it take to set up an information table?
Judy: Oh, it used to be an enormous effort, but we’re streamlining it to make it much easier. We now are using QR codes to direct people to valuable, accurate information online. That way we cut way down on the number of booklets and papers we carry to the event. But the wealth of information and help is still available right there! Now we set up the table, canopy (for outdoor events), several chairs for greeters, brochures, flyers and plastic display stands for the table. We need volunteers to greet at the table and that takes some emails and some scheduling.
Becky: Do you need some help with all this?
Judy: Oh, yes, I’d love some more folks to share in this very meaningful outreach. Mostly I need volunteers to be at the table for a few hours at a time. It’s generally a very pleasant time to visit with the other volunteers and the folks who drop by the table. I could also use help scheduling volunteers and at set-up and clean-up time.
Becky: I’ve been at the table a few times when we had very little action. What do you think when that’s the case?
Judy: If people have even seen us, we’ve accomplished something. Many folks don’t know about NAMI or are shy about coming to the table. If we help ONE person, it was a valuable offering to the community. We want people to know who we are and that we’re here for them. They “are not alone.” If someone walks by and can’t bring themselves to approach and talk to us, we can be a friendly hello and first exposure. It could be a beginning to real help and support that NAMI can bring to an individual or a family who’s struggling with a mental health concern.
Becky: Why are we changing to QR codes and reducing the amount of paper and booklets we offer?
Judy: Well, this is a transition period. During COVID times we found that people didn’t want to touch papers or booklets. That was when we thought that COVID might pass from person to person that way. But now we find that folks are just so comfortable with online information and that almost everyone has a cell phone to take the QR codes we display. Also, the websites for NAMI Central Middlesex and NAMI Mass are so rich with information that it really makes sense to use the internet. And, I will admit, it is so much easier to set up the table!
Becky: What’s some fun you’re having these days with your Community Outreach tables?
Judy: Oh, Susan McDougall, my support group facilitator partner and long-time friend, and I are collaborating on making the table more colorful and eye-catching!! Without all the colorful booklets and brochures, we need some other things to catch people’s attention. That will be fun to create! And I’m so thrilled to have a new table cloth and canopy for the table. The canopy is easier to set-up than the old one and the tablecloth is much preferred over our awkward banner from the past. And soon we’ll have a whole new set of NAMI Central Middlesex crisis cards, a lifesaving piece of info that fits in a person’s wallet!
Dee Febba and Tom Scurfield waving from the new NAMI Central Middlesex canopy and table.