Guest:  Brenda Stark

Topic:  MHPC's Craft and Flea Market

Duration:  5:46

Published:  July 27, 2021

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Brenda Starks, Certified Benefits Advisor and Certified Peer Specialist with Mental Health PEER Connection (MHPC), and your host as yours truly Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program Brenda.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie.

Host:  We're delighted to have you with us. And you're here because you are the person with all the knowledge about a special event that's coming up in just a few weeks. But first I bet there's a number of people listening that are not familiar was just what MHPC does for people with mental health and behavioral health concerns. If you could sketch out some of your major programs for us, please.

Guest:  One of our major programs is the Renewal Center, located at 327 Elm Street. It is open Monday through Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. It's a peer to peer organization that helps individuals in crisis. They also provide transportation to and from your home. If an individual is averse to going to the hospital you have someone that could meet you where you at and share the experience. We also have the Addict 2 Addict program which is for individuals that are in active addiction that is looking for support, and they also have support groups for the family. We have the Job Club; the Job Club is for individuals that are looking for employment. They help you build a resume; they do job searches. We also have the certified peers. The certified peers, they are individuals, also with same experience, they share their life, they help you with housing, they help you relate and get back into the community. And then there's the benefit advisors, myself and Rhea Brown. We assist with services so Security, Medicaid, Medicare, anything pertaining the benefits, and that's just some of the things that we offer in MHPC.

Host:  Well that sounds like even in that brief summation that you do an awful lot of things that are valuable for the community and if people want more details on any of those, they can just look up MHPC on our website, wnyil.org, and you'll find the department's listed on the homepage. But the reason you're here today is all those staff and programs do need to have some support to keep going. And to that end, you're holding the crafts and flea market. Could you tell us when that occurs and what all is going to be going on?

Guest:  Well the MHPC Craft & Flea Market is going to be held on August 21, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It's going to be located behind Jim’s Steak Out in the WNYIL parking lot at 3108 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14214. To reserve a table, the tables are $20, if you're using your own table, $30 per table if you need a table. And you can contact Jillian Moss at extension 146. The number is 836-0822 extension 146 to reserve a spot and discuss payment options.

Host:  And if people didn't happen to have a pencil handy, I will ask you to repeat that before we close out the show. Because it's still a few weeks away, you probably don't have people that have told you just what they’re going to be offering at their crafts and flea market tables, but based on past experience, could you give us some general idea of the sorts of things people are likely to find?

Guest:  You're likely to find household items, electronics, bridal gowns, toys for children, Christmas items, knickknacks. Everything that you would normally want for your house you would find at the flea market.

Host:  Well, as people will have a better idea if they just come on down and peruse things after all there's no charge for looking. If you could repeat again how can people sign up for the flea market or get more information?

Guest:  You can contact Jillian Moss at area code 716-836-0822 extension 146. Again, the number is 716-836-0822 extension 146 to reserve a spot and discuss payment options.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us, Brenda.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie such a joy.

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Brenda Starks, Certified Benefits Advisor and Certified Peer Specialist with MHPC, and your host was yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.