Volunteer Spotlight: Volunteer Week 2024

This month, we're excited to bring you a unique edition of our Volunteer Spotlight. To commemorate National Volunteer Week, we're highlighting seven of our exceptional volunteers who contribute to our chapter in diverse capacities. These individuals play pivotal roles across various areas within our chapter, including advocacy, education, loss and healing, Out of the Darkness walks, spring events, social media, and supporting International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. Each volunteer brings a distinct skill set and passion to their respective roles, enriching our community with their dedication and commitment. Join us in celebrating our featured volunteers by reading about them below!

National Volunteer Week 2024

What is your name?:
Cherise Krug

How long have you been involved with AFSP?:
It will be 5 years this May.

What is your volunteer role within AFSP?:
I'm a social media ambassador. Lately, my main role is to research New Jersey-specific news related to mental health and suicide prevention. I find and read timely articles and—if I find them to be relevant to our audience—I save them to a shared doc that the rest of the social media team can access. I'll write a caption that we can use to share the article on social media, and I'll look for the social media accounts of people and organizations that are connected to the article so we can tag them. We also meet regularly as a team to plan social media campaigns and strategize ways to reach a larger audience.

What brought you to AFSP?:
I don't think that I know a single person who has not been affected by suicide in some way, whether they've had their own struggles or lost someone. Some of us are unfortunate enough to have been touched by suicide more than once. As a suicide loss survivor, I wanted to channel my emotions into something that could potentially help others.

Why is your work with AFSP important to you?:
I hope to share information and resources that provide hope and make a difference.

What is your name?:
Wanda Griffin

How long have you been involved with AFSP?:
Two years

What is your volunteer role within AFSP?:
I participate in local tabling events (Bergen County Stand Down, Jersey City Pride Festival, In Their Shoes, Ramsey Farmer’s Market, etc.). I also hold two roles for the Bergen County Out of the Darkness Walk committee member and company sponsor lead.

What brought you to AFSP?:
I was introduced to the AFSP in 2019 by a colleague when I volunteered to serve as a panelist with my company. I attended my first AFSP event in 2022, Finding Hope: Guidance to Supporting Those At Risk, and became a volunteer shortly after that. I felt it was important to give back to an organization that has helped me as a family member/caregiver of a suicide survivor. Connecting with others who understood what I was going through, and getting resources and support was so critical for my personal mental health. What the AFSP has provided; was a game changer.

Why is your work with AFSP important to you?:
I don’t want anyone to ever feel like they are alone. There are people who care; even those you don’t know. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience that firsthand through AFSP. There is power in numbers and the more of us that raise awareness; the more we can break the stigma. Suicide has been a part of my life for such a long time and I wouldn’t want that for future generations. A hug, listening, caring, showing empathy, acknowledgment, being mindful, kind, etc., those little things can make a huge difference to someone who is struggling. With the help of the AFSP, I’ve been able to become more aware of how important these small acts of kindness are.

What is your name?:
Africa Nelson

How long have you been involved with AFSP?:
Five years

What is your volunteer role within AFSP?:
Healing Conversations and the Out of the Darkness Walks as a volunteer and participant. 

What brought you to AFSP?:
My first experience with suicide was the loss of my uncle in 1988. I was too young at the time to really understand the complexity and trauma of losing a loved one to suicide. It was the loss of my younger and only brother in 2010 that absolutely devastated me. His passing caused me to seek individual and group therapy to wrap my mind around this life-changing tragedy. I also wanted to get involved to be an advocate for the black community. I found when attending survivor group sessions I was the only black person in attendance. The ultimate goal is to completely prevent suicide, but until then to help my community reduce the stigma of suicide and mental health issues. 

Why is your work with AFSP important to you?:
My work with AFSP has helped me to heal and have a safe place to share my loss in addition to helping others know this type of loss adds an extra layer to the grieving process with plenty of complicated feelings, but to let them know they are not alone and they are supported on their survivor journey.

What is your name?:
Phil Mistrette

How long have you been involved with AFSP?:
Over five years

What is your volunteer role within AFSP?:
I have been organizing friends, family, and co-workers to participate in the Wayne, NJ Ride to Fight Suicide, sponsored by AFSP. A motorcycle event held to bring light to the stigma of suicide and help raise funds for the prevention and education of suicide.

I created our team’s name, “Hero’s for Hope”. Our numbers year to year vary based on other circumstances and other commitments. I make it a point for our team to meet at my house first and ride over together as this cause is very close to my heart and I wanted everyone to know that it is very personal to me and let them into my personal life. For a long time, I did not want to talk or even think about how suicide affected my life. Every time I used to think about it and tried to express my feelings, I could not get through one sentence without getting emotional. This fundraiser let me use a passion of mine (motorcycle riding), not only to bring awareness to suicide, but it became my own therapy to help me open up and finally talk and express how it affected me, and to that end, I am extremely grateful for AFSP and the local leadership in Wayne, NJ for organizing this event.

What brought you to AFSP?:
My mother suffered from depression for as long as I can remember. Growing up I remember every couple of years she would have to go to the hospital not knowing really what for. As I got older and into my teens, I understood it was for depression. The mind works in mysterious ways, for all those not so memorable times, I remember all the holidays, birthdays, and vacations she made special. After years of suffering mentally and physically, she unfortunately took her own life in 2008. Now I look back and I have empathy. I know now that she felt like a burden, and she didn’t want her family to carry that anymore too. I feel if only there was more intervention and concern for people who suffer from depression, her life as well as countless other lives would have been saved.

Why is your work with AFSP important to you?:
I strongly feel that AFSP is shining that light and trying to break the walls of stigma down and fundraise for additional research to educate people. I am in law enforcement, and besides my own mother, I have lost multiple co-workers to suicide in the last 10 years. I can only imagine if we were equipped with the right knowledge and words to keep them here, we could have helped them and let them know they were not alone. I believe AFSP is making those exact strides to help; not only people thinking of suicide, but also helping people like me to cope with the loss of someone who died by suicide.

I wish I could only do more.  I feel if we all play our own small role in this, we can save countless lives and let them know whatever they are going through, people are here to listen and help….

What is your name?:
George Gorman

How long have you been involved with AFSP?:
Six years

What is your volunteer role within AFSP?:
Prevention Education Volunteer and walk participant/volunteer. I educate students, parents, and faculty within NJ school systems with the It’s Real: Teens and More Than Sad programs.

Why is your work with AFSP important to you?:
The desire to help those in need and as a suicide loss survivor; I want to do everything possible to minimize this tragedy for families and all those affected by suicide.

What is your name?:
Emily Brogan

How long have you been involved with AFSP?:
Six years as a volunteer, and four months as an Advocacy intern. I will be in my first Overnight Walk this June in Boston.

What is your volunteer role within AFSP?:
Advocacy Intern and I help out at walks.

What brought you to AFSP?:
Mental health awareness and suicide prevention have always been very important to me. As someone who has struggled with mental health, being an advocate has been empowering. My lived experiences give me the opportunity to help others and also break down the stigma around mental health. Additionally, it gives me a chance to turn my grief into action as well as make a difference in the lives of other people who may also be struggling. I am studying psychology at Bryant University, where I am also a student-athlete. I plan on pursuing further education postgrad and hope to become a sports psychologist later in life. My mother, Maureen Brogan, who also is in the field, is my biggest inspiration; she has helped me find the courage in myself to speak up and bring more awareness to mental health-related causes. (athlete mental health, I have spoken on a council for as well as sexual trauma)

Why is your work with AFSP important to you?:
My work with AFSP is important to me because it gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Being able to contribute to an organization that is actively working to prevent suicide and support those affected by it is incredibly meaningful. Every step we take towards raising awareness, advocating for policy changes, and providing resources can potentially save lives. Plus, the sense of community and support I've found within AFSP has been invaluable in my own healing journey.

What is your name?:
Michele Taylor

How long have you been involved with AFSP?:
5+ years

What is your volunteer role within AFSP?:
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day - Lincroft, NJ event planning committee member and Jersey Shore Walk volunteer. 

What brought you to AFSP?:
In 2017 I lost my oldest son Brian to suicide. Upon his death, I was lost and unaware of how I would get through this horrible nightmare. One day shortly after Brian passed I found myself seeking support for my family, and me. As I began my search, I opened a website named The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I soon came to realize my shattered heart had found its home. I put all my information in and submitted it and within two days I received my first phone call from a wonderful gentleman who had suffered a loss just like mine. He spent two hours on the phone with me and for the first time since this traumatic event happened, I was not alone. I realized I was not the first person to feel this pain; there were people who have suffered losses as great as mine and these people were willing to help me survive my trauma and understand my grief.

I was safe.

In November 2017 I attended my first Survivors of Suicide Loss Day event with AFSP and I was afraid to walk in the door. What would people think of me, my family, and my Brian? Contrary to my beliefs, I was welcomed with open arms and lots of tissues. My eyes were opened again to the outpouring of support, compassion, and hope. I knew my family was different now and with this organization, we were the same kind of different. I knew I wanted more from this family, I was now a part of. I immediately asked about becoming a volunteer, which would allow me to spend more time with the organization, and learn how to deal with grief and possibly help someone else in their grief and loss.

I was accepted as a volunteer and started my journey. I participated in the walks as a volunteer, which allowed me to meet and greet many people who were there to support a family, a friend, a loved one; all of those who were gone too soon and it felt right for me.

I was asked to assist in the annual Survivors of Suicide Loss Day event that is held at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ alongside some of the wonderful men and women I had met along my journey.

I’m happy to say that I have been one of the volunteers who has assisted in successful Survivor Day events since. I was also asked to facilitate the mothers' support group at this event each year which I hold as a great honor by the organization.

During all of this, I developed two fundraising events 5K for BK and A Night at the Blueclaws which are held every year on Brian’s birthday in his memory. All proceeds are donated to ASFP NJ.

Why is your work with AFSP important to you?:
I wanted to teach people and make them aware that the brain is equally as important in our everyday health as our other major organs. My continued work and participation with AFSP is to bring people together and show them that they are not alone. My hope is that a touch, a voice, a smile, or even a word can change someone’s day, and on that day, it may be the reason that someone makes it out of their darkness and home to their family again. Then no one would ever have to wear the shoes of loss by suicide again.

I honestly did not know I needed AFSP or that they needed me. It all became apparent to me after Brian‘s death because I would not let his death be in vain nor would I ever have wanted him to be forgotten. I had the tools that I needed to keep his memory alive and found my broken heart a safe place. AFSP became my haven. I was not alone.

If just one life could be changed by Brian's story, maybe - just maybe - we can change the life of someone who is struggling.

My goal is to aid in helping people who were forced to wear the same shoes as me.

How Can You Get Involved?

We are so grateful for ALL of our volunteers. We couldn't do this work without you. Big thank you to our featured volunteers for allowing us to share their stories.

If any of these stories resonate with you and you're eager to become a part of our volunteer community, complete our volunteer application. We're always thrilled to welcome new faces with a passion for making a difference!

Join us as we share stories of hope, healing, resilience, and the profound influence volunteers have on our community. Together, we can create a world that is smart about mental health!