Fund-raiser supports mentally ill people

Friday, 30 October 2009 00:00

Redding resident Carole Hart hosted an exclusive “Tapas Tonight” fund-raiser for the non-profit organization Interlude, Inc. at her home on Oct. 23. Ms. Hart, an Interlude board member, has a son who suffers from a serious mental illness and had been in an Interlude program. She said she is thankful for the help that Interlude provided to her son.

“Interlude brought caring service to my son and gave me a greater peace of mind, too,” Ms. Hart said. “My goal is to raise awareness about mental illness and the need for support and housing for people with mental illness. Interlude was started by Celine Karraker, a Redding native, and it would be a wonderful thing to keep Interlude’s mission going. We need the good work they do for families who have been devastated by this persistent and cruel type of illness.”

Interlude, Inc., a non-profit agency serving men and women with mental illness and substance use disorders, offers individually tailored services to help the mentally ill learn to live independently in the community. Ms. Karraker created Interlude after years of struggling to find caring support for her own daughter Nell, who suffered from Schizophrenia, a press release said. Ms. Karraker had a vision for a non-institutional, family-like program for people with mental illness. Interlude began with one group home for 10 residents and a minimal staff. Today, Interlude serves 41 clients in the Danbury and New Milford area with three residential programs.

“We know that before one can begin to work on stabilizing their mental health, that they must have a safe, supportive environment that promotes recovery with individualized services,” said Interlude Executive Director Kathleen Deschenes.

Ms. Hart is also a member of NAMI (the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill). She helps run a free family support group for those who have relatives, partners, or friends with mental illness. The 12-week course helps caregivers understand and support individuals with serious mental illness while maintaining their own well-being, and is taught by a team of trained NAMI family member volunteers.

Interlude’s fall fund-raiser this year boasted a Spanish theme. Spanish food including paella, a traditional dish from Spain, guacamole, and other treats were served. Attendees included Interlude’s supporters, as well as prospective supporters. A highlight of the evening was a demonstration of Spanish dance performed by the Fred Astaire School of Dance in Ridgefield, a press release said.

The Robert G. and Marguerite M. Derx Foundation, a family foundation supporting hand-selected charities in Western Connecticut, also sponsored a matching gift challenge, matching all donations from the event dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000.

For more information on Interlude, call (203) 797-1210 or go to interludeinc.org. To donate, send a check to Interlude, Inc., 60 West Street, Danbury, CT 06810, or give securely on the Web site. For more information on the NAMI family support group, call Carole Hart at (203) 938-3539.