Community Projects
Connection, Powered by Peers!
2026
MFA Club prepares for Mental Health Awareness Month!
Amazing team 💙
These are just some of the nearly 50 students who showed up yesterday for our MFA Community Project to help kick off Mental Health Awareness Month
Our focus: preparing for an upcoming MFA Club school campaign with meaningful 988 resource bags! Special thanks to our partner, TPAUD, Trumbull’s Prevention Partnership!
We also created positive affirmation cards for ourselves and for others, and took time to play with Play-Doh—because caring for your mental health can be simple.
Stepping away from our phones and connecting with each other can reduce stress, improve focus, and help the mind reset after a busy school day 📚
Sometimes self-care looks like taking a break, playing, and recharging ✨
Shining Light and Love On You!
My Friend Abby’s “Shining Light and Love On You” community project was all about showing up for residents in local elder care communities—all thanks to the hard-working students and the care behind their thoughtful messages.
At MFA, our mission centers on connection—and this community project was a powerful reminder that kindness builds bridges across generations, and volunteering for this project truly did #37HelpOthersInABigWay.
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sarah D…a new counselor at the Mary J. Sherlach Counseling Center, who guided our students through a thoughtful exercise reminding us that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about couples—it’s about self-love, compassion, and kindness toward ourselves, too. Special thanks also to Kiersten N. from TPAUD, Trumbull’s Prevention Partnership, Jami B., advisor to the MFA Club, and Anna M who made a special visit with Scarlett the therapy dog!
Spreading the Love
More than 50 students came together with one shared goal: to bring positive affirmations and kindness to older adults who may sometimes feel overlooked. Through handwritten postcards, decorating wooden heart ornaments, and assembling gift bags with donated Bigelow tea bags, cookies, and chocolate, students helped remind residents that they are seen, valued, and appreciated. Seeing these smiles in person reminded us how even small acts of kindness can make a huge difference!
2025
Spreading Holiday Cheer for Mental Health
Nearly 50 incredible My Friend Abby volunteers and MFA Club members from Trumbull High School dedicated their time and energy to bring a little extra joy to young adults currently hospitalized as psychiatric patients. After school, these students wrapped gifts, prepared festive gift bags, wrote thoughtful personalized cards, and shared kindness in a way that went far beyond the presents themselves.
Their efforts created meaningful connections, brightened spirits, and showed the true power of generosity and community. Every card, every ribbon, every smile mattered—and reminded us all how small acts of care can make a big difference and #37HelpOthersInABigWay
Our guest speaker, Dr. Ariana Rick, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, shared how mental health is often overlooked—especially during the holidays. Many psychiatric patients face acute challenges and can’t go home, yet most donations go to medical hospitals, leaving them with very little. Giving back can make a real difference in their lives.
“Dear My Friend Abby, thank you for a wonderful event filled with joy and generosity. Your efforts help spread awareness and kindness, making the holidays memorable for Hartford Healthcare St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health child and adolescent patients”. Dr. Ariana Rick, DNP, APRN-BC
🌟Peer-to-peer connection in action! 🌟
My Friend Abby’s “Shining Love on You” community project for February was a huge success! Over 30 students came together to brighten the lives of those in elder care and cancer care. ✨
MFA’s mission is all about building connections between young adults, and this project showed just how powerful kindness can be. From writing heartfelt cards (because handwritten words matter for mental health!) to assembling gift bags with felt flowers and candy, everyone played a role in spreading love.
Supporting others brings us closer—let’s keep the kindness going! 🫶 ☀️💙
This project truly did #37HelpOthersInABigWay, thank you!
What a Heartfelt Success!!
Pictured in photos:
L to R:
Abby J from My Friend Abby and Jennifer, Teresian Towers.
Becky, Becki, and Rachel, Radiation Oncology Department at Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center.
2024
Holiday Cheer For Mental Health!
This holiday season, almost 50 My Friend Abby volunteers at Trumbull High School came together to spread joy to young adults who are currently hospitalized as psychiatric patients. By staying after school to wrap gifts, fill gift bags, write personalized cards, and share the holiday spirit, students contributed to a meaningful cause and connected with others in a powerful way.
Our guest speaker, Dr. Ariana Rick, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner from Hartford Healthcare St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health in Westport, CT, highlighted how mental health is often overlooked, especially around the holidays. She explained that while most donations are directed toward medical hospitals, psychiatric patients are frequently left with very little. Many of these patients come from difficult home environments and face acute mental health challenges, preventing them from going home for the holidays and necessitating their stay at the psychiatric hospital.
This My Friend Abby Community Project empowered young people by blending creative activities with meaningful discussions about mental health. By the end of the event, volunteers left knowing they had contributed to #37HelpOthersInABigWay.
Heroes Behind the Mask: Encouraging Student Resilience!
Our most recent My Friend Abby Community Project was designed to empower young people by combining creative activities with meaningful discussions about mental health. We discussed how helping others can increase motivation and create a sense of accomplishment through the release of "feel-good" hormones in the brain. This project harnessed that energy, giving students the opportunity to connect, contribute, and build resilience.
Our event included two hands-on activities. First, students decorated coasters with positive affirmations, creating pieces that serve as reminders of encouragement and support while building a bridge between students and our broader community. The second activity involved decorating masks for Halloween with the theme, “Behind every mask, there’s a hero waiting to shine!” Through this theme, we encouraged students to see themselves as capable of self-care and inner strength.
Our guest speaker, Johnny Crowder, CEO and Founder of Cope Notes, shared his powerful journey, openly discussing the challenges he faced as a student and the resilience he has built along the way. By emphasizing the value of peer support and safe spaces to talk about mental health, Johnny encouraged students to reach out for help and lean on one another.
His message reinforced the goals of this project—to foster a community that supports mental health and builds connections that make a lasting difference.
Shining Love On You!
The senior lounge at Trumbull High School was absolutely buzzing with activity as students came together to make a huge difference through My Friend Abby’s “Shining Love on You” community project. The goal of the project was to brighten the lives of local nursing home residents who might have felt forgotten this Valentine’s Day.
And guess what? It wasn’t just about spreading love—it was a win-win for everyone involved. Volunteering had been shown to boost mental health and wellness, and this project perfectly aligned with MFA’s mission to foster peer-to-peer connections among young adults.
Over 40 young adults participated in #37HelpOthersInABigWay by writing heartfelt cards, creating gift bags, and assembling them with adorable stuffed animals and candy. Additional tasks were completed, and students enjoyed snacks, refreshments, and a special visit from Yale Officer Rich Simons and Heidi, the service dog!