Helping a local organization get the message out about suicide prevention could be as simple as buying a brat next week. Prevent Suicide Door County (PSDC) is hosting a brat fry on Thursday, May 29th at Marchant’s Meats in Sturgeon Bay, and the proceeds will support the organization’s mission of suicide awareness and prevention.

“Our goal is to break the stigma, to get the word out there, if we don’t talk about it, it still becomes a hidden thing in our county,” said PSDC secretary and member April Grosbeier, “we really need to talk about it because it’s here, it’s not going away, it’s not getting better.”

Grosbeier feels that there are many circumstances in our world today that are influences behind suicide rates continuing to increase. While it’s a topic that has also hit home for her, she hopes to help share that resources are available and that community support is just as valuable.

The pop-up fundraiser will begin at 11a.m. and run until 1p.m. Cheesecurd Brats, made with pork and Cheddar cheese curds, and regular brats, will be cooked up on-site. Funds raised from the brat fry will help fund training for the organization’s volunteers who give educational presentations. It will also assist in funding educational materials, literature, and their annual mailing. 

“Right now, we’re using part of the money to really push and advertise our Survivors of Suicide group that meets once a month at Jak's Place the first Monday of the month,” she said.

In addition to the brat fry, Prevent Suicide Door County is gearing up to host their main annual fundraiser, The Bridge Walk. The walk will take place on Sunday, September 7th, starting at 2 p.m. at the Sawyer Pavillion in Sturgeon Bay. For more information on Prevent Suicide Door County, visit their Facebook page by clicking here.