To Hear You Matter;
Life can be a hard, sometimes overwhelming journey…
While many of us experience feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, fear, and anxiety, it’s important to recognize that suicide, depression, and mental health challenges still carry a heavy stigma, preventing too many of all ages from seeking help.
Suicide is real. The numbers of those contemplating suicide are still rising. The less people talk about it, the stronger the likelihood these numbers will continue to climb.
Another Chance To Hear You Matter believes in the power of connection and companionship. As a dog behaviorist, I've witnessed firsthand how dogs can bring joy, accountability, and a real sense of purpose into our lives. Being there for them helps us not give up on ourselves. And their unconditional love can help us in our darkest moments.
Please note that this video is from our March 2023 pack walk, but the video does a great job to explain our mission.
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Since I was a young child, even happy occasions sometimes brought up feelings of sadness and loss. When I moved to Chicago, I made the decision to turn those feelings into purpose.
Pair the desire to give back with the the weight of the pandemic and its drastic increase in anxiety, depression and suicide, and I knew that this was the cause I wanted to shed light on.
It made sense to me to have our first #anotherchancetohearyoumatter pack walk in December of 2020.
Why Suicide Prevention
With it being the first holiday season since the pandemic began, many felt loneliness and hopelessness for the first time during this time of year, and I wanted to show people that so many had been experiencing this long before the pandemic.
Pack walks continue to take place throughout the year, including on my birthday weekend - a time of year that is particularly difficult for me - because I want to turn my own challenges into purpose.
Since 2020, Another Chance To Hear You Matter has been dedicated to suicide prevention. We firmly believe that talking openly about mental health is crucial to breaking down the barriers that prevent individuals of all ages from seeking help.
Why Suicide Prevention
Since I was a young child, even happy occasions sometimes brought up feelings of sadness and loss.
When I moved to Chicago, I made the decision to turn those feelings into purpose.
Pair the desire to give back with the the weight of the pandemic and its drastic increase in anxiety, depression and suicide, and I knew that this was the cause I wanted to shed light on.
It made sense to me to have our first #anotherchancetohearyoumatter pack walk in December of 2020.
With it being the first holiday season since the pandemic began, many felt loneliness and hopelessness for the first time during this time of year, and I wanted to show people that so many had been experiencing this long before the pandemic.
Pack walks continue to take place throughout the year, including on my birthday weekend - a time of year that is particularly difficult for me - because I want to turn my own challenges into purpose.
Since 2020, Another Chance To Hear You Matter has been dedicated to suicide prevention. We firmly believe that talking openly about mental health is crucial to breaking down the barriers that prevent individuals of all ages from seeking help.
You Matter.
And your support matters.
Since the program’s inception, we’ve had 6 pack walks and have raised more than $20,000 for suicide prevention thanks to the generous contributions of people like you.
Each dollar raised goes directly to Chicago-based suicide prevention organizations and has supported their fight to prevent suicide for all ages. In fact, the youngest age that these organizations have needed to assist with intervention to prevent suicide is a child at the age of 3 years old. Another Chance To Hear You Matter Pack Walks most recently supported and continues to support Elyssa’s Mission. In just two walks, we raised enough money to fund 4 new schools for Elyssa’s Mission to begin their life saving programs in.
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How To Get Involved
Sign up for another chance to hear you matter emails
1
Send an email to Shir at shir@anotherchancetraining.com and request to be added to the email list for our upcoming and future pack walks. We will only send you emails regarding the walks and will not share your email address with anyone.
join in person
2
If you’d like to be a part of our next pack walk on Saturday, September 30, please Zelle your minimum donation of $25 to anotherchancetraining@gmail.com. Rest assured that 100% of your contribution will go directly to suicide prevention organizations.
In the comment area of your donation, please include your name, email address, and the name of someone you'd like to honor with your contribution. You will then receive an email notification, tax deduction letter from the organization we’re giving your donation to, and details of the upcoming walk. (The walk on September 30 will benefit Elyssa’s Mission.)
Spread the word
3
Help us extend our reach by sharing our mission and these events with anyone you believe may want to join or be a part of a community of dog lovers who care deeply about making a difference.
Support from afar
4
If you can't join us physically, you can still contribute by making a donation or encouraging others to do the same. Your support gives someone else another chance to hear that they matter.
And remember,
your contribution, no matter the size, has the power to change lives.
At Another Chance To Hear You Matter, we firmly believe that we can make a difference by coming together and sharing our stories, our struggles, and our triumphs. Let's unite as a compassionate community and be the voice that empowers those who may feel unheard.
You matter. always.
You matter.
Your presence matters.
Your experiences and your feelings about them are all valid.
My hope with Another Chance To Hear You Matter is to help you hear that you are not alone, and there is always hope, even in the darkest of times. Even if you don’t see it now.
Together, we can bring light to those who need it most.
With love and gratitude,
Shir & chance
9 AM - 9 PM
12:00 - 5 :00
Closed
