At Gold Star Property Restoration, our mission, simply put, is to help our neighbors overcome. And our ability to do so begins and ends with our compassionate, motivated team. Today, we’d like to share a story about how Gold Star Brand Manager Melissa Jones turned a simple social media conversation into an opportunity to make a positive impact on metro Detroiters affected by mental illness and suicide.

Last month, after launching social media contest to support our Family Fun for Charity event, Gold Star Brand Manager Melissa Jones struck up a conversation with one of our contestants, who lost her fiancé to suicide three years ago. Now a single mother, the woman shared her story of perseverance, and her passion for raising awareness about suicide and ways to prevent this epidemic, which claims more than 39, 500 American lives each year.

After hearing this woman’s story, Melissa felt a need to do more – as she often does – and support our contestant’s life-saving mission. Melissa volunteered to walk on the woman’s team at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walk, which was recently held in downtown Detroit. In addition to participating in the walk, Melissa raised $175 from her Gold Star colleagues to support AFSP’s suicide awareness and prevention efforts. We’re so proud of Melissa’s involvement in the Out of the Darkness Walk, and of everyone who helped make this year’s event a success.

Interested in learning how you can do your part in the fight against suicide? Click here to learn more about how you can get involved.

We can all do our part to prevent suicide: get free and confidential support.

If you’re in crisis – or you think a friend or family member may be in crisis –please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 for 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, and prevention and crisis resources for you and/or your loved ones.

Gold Star Property Restoration is a fully licensed and insured disaster restoration contractor located in Troy, Michigan.