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The project is designed to enlist the aid of volunteers who are new to NAMI NEW JERSEY or who are too busy to take any other volunteer activities-and who are willing to drop off brochures where they go during the course of the day - such as pharmacy, library, doctor. Campaign funds would enable NAMI NJ to expand distribution of the Appleseed brochures to more targeted audiences, such as businesses, civic groups, and professional family members.
Each brochure will be marked with an apple on the membership tear-off so that we can keep track of how our "Johnny Appleseeds" are doing. Our goal will be 600 new members. When our "apple barrel" is filled, we will invite our volunteers to a "roll out the barrel" celebration. We have developed this concept as a way to enable more volunteer participation from members who do not have the time and energy to do more. By asking volunteers to simply take the canvas bag with literature (which we provide) to places and activities that are part of their routines we can provide an "easy " and "fun" way for more volunteers to "grow" our membership.
The NAMI NEW JERSEY "Johnny Appleseed Project" outreach and awareness activities seek to expand the knowledge and understanding about serious mental illness; its biological causes and effects on the individual, their family members and peers in conjunction with membership development.
These activities also work toward informing the community about the negative side effects created by stigma and how misperceptions can decrease the ability for family members to learn and "grow" together in a productive environment.
The Apple has been chosen as a natural symbol for the NAMI NEW
JERSEY "Johnny Appleseed Project" and represents
growth through knowledge, as well as promoting an optimistic
outlook for the future on behalf of individuals, their family
members and peers affected by biologically based brain disorders.
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