Seattle Pacific University's NAMI chapter hosted a very successful pop-up on campus Friday, April 29th. They almost sold out of everything and made over $800 -- "which for selling things to poor college students, is really awesome" jokes one of the organizers, Carl Sallee. "It was crowded at the table almost the whole time and we spread a lot of awareness."
Carl wrote a follow-up piece for our blog explaining what inspired him to host a pop-up:
"The NAMI club at Seattle Pacific University been around for several years now, but it has historically not had much of a voice or presence on campus. This year the club officers (Hannah Miller, Kaylyn Springer, Sarah McDermott) and myself decided that we wanted people to know that the club existed on campus and that it has been behind-the-scenes working for mental illness awareness and support for years. We wanted that work to come out from behind the scenes and in to the public eye, so what a better way than a creative bake sale?!
We were excited that this was no ordinary bake sale, but one that could educate and de-stigmatize an issue that touches everyone's lives at the same time. So when I heard about the idea and how successful it was in Capitol Hill, Seattle in the fall, I wanted to bring it to campus - where some of the most influential people our world is about to receive are being educated and trained to make a difference.
I wanted to be able to spread the word about mental illness to these people so that when they are going out in to the world, they will know it is OK to openly discuss mental illness, but it is not OK to treat people who are affected by it in a way that is less respectful, loving, or accepting than they would anyone else.
I also wanted to support NAMI and inform people about how effective and important its advocacy work and support network is as an institution. We had an amazing turnout and a blast putting it on and we hope that it can become an annual event for the future SPU NAMI clubs to organize from here on out!
Thanks for the support, Depressed Cake Shop!"
-Carl Sallee, SPU