Hundreds attend Help Hotline's 40th anniversary event tonight

POLAND

Since the early 1970s, the Mahoning Valley has seen its share of major upheavals and change — the closing of numerous steel mills, the loss of thousands of jobs and a consistent population decline, to name a few.

One source of hope, however, has remained throughout the often tumultuous four decades: Help Hotline Crisis Center Inc.

Since the first call in May 1971, the agency has assisted more than 2.5 million people with everything from housing referrals to suicide prevention. Throughout that time, volunteers have been the lifeblood of the crisis center, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For those and many other efforts, HHCC was honored during a 40th anniversary celebration Tuesday at The Lake Club, 1140 Paulin Road.

Nearly 300 staff members, volunteers, elected officials, mental-health professionals and others attended the 2½-hour event, which highlighted and captured many of the HHCC’s accomplishments.

“At Help Hotline, you don’t have to be a clinician to help other people,” said Tracy J. Plouck, director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and the event’s keynote speaker.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.