Not because I am weak.
I wear it because my support system includes access to mental health care. That semicolon reminds me of the people who cared for me and the resources that were within reach in the middle of a quiet but growing mental health crisis.
The alternative to me having a reminder on my wrist is that my family would have been left with only reminders of me.
I understand there is a belief that leaders shouldn’t be in those places. Especially leaders of organizations that provide mental health services. But there I was. And today, that is not a point of shame for me. It is a source of purpose.
I do not want anyone to sit quietly and wonder how they could end it all while their children play in the basement. I do not want anyone calculating what method might cause the least amount of pain. The truth I know now, even more clearly than I did then, is that there would have been no nice, neat way to cover the hole my absence would have left in the lives of the people who love me.
So I am glad my wife intervened. I am thankful for my therapist. I am thankful for a workplace and a community that promotes social-emotional health. I am thankful that care was close enough, accessible enough, and trusted enough for me to receive it.
That is why mental health access is not just a professional issue for me. It is personal.
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and I felt it was time to share my truth, which I hope will inspire others to reach out for help. […]
READ JOHNATHAN’S STORY
Founder & Executive Director
Thank you!
A heartfelt thank you to our Halloween Costume Giveaway and Child Mental Wellness Fair sponsors — Kansas Gas Service, a division of ONE Gas, and Link Wealth Strategies. KVC Kansas is our in-kind Sponsor.
Thank you to the Pittsburg State University Plastics Engineering Technology Program for a generous donation of water bottles for students at Ross Elementary and Eisenhower Middle School.
Thank you to United Way of Kaw Valley for their generous grant support of our Community Health and Wellness programs.
SENT’s Annual Halloween Costume Giveaway and Child Mental Wellness Fair returns on Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at 455 SE Golf Park Blvd, Topeka, KS — and it is completely free for all families. We are collecting new and gently used costume donations through September 30 at SENT Inc., 455 SE Golf Park Blvd. For questions, contact Aimee Copp-Hasty at acopp-hasty@senttopeka.com or 785-338-1459.
Learn More, Volunteer Sign Up, Donation Information
Are you ready to take your first step toward homeownership? SENT’s Homebuyer Seminars are designed to help you understand the process, explore real opportunities, and build confidence along the way. Sessions cover how families are selected from SENT’s Buyer Pool, what affordable housing means in real numbers, available down payment grants, and a closer look at Fremont Hill, New Heights, and upcoming homes. There are classes once a month through December.
To get started, complete a homebuyer course through HCCI (housingandcredit.org) or Fannie Mae (fanniemae.com/education), then submit your Buyer Pool Application.
Learn More & Register
We are so excited to announce our Employee of the Month — Delilah Clevenger!
Delilah joined us earlier this year as a Community Health Worker and pantry volunteer, and her willingness to learn, serve, and help things run smoothly quickly made an impact. Today, she serves full-time through our apprenticeship program as the Pantry Manager at the Southside Filling Station.
Her joyful spirit, positive attitude, and genuine love and concern for people are an encouragement to everyone she works with. She brings a heart to learn and a desire to help wherever she is needed — and that combination is something this team is deeply grateful for.
Delilah, thank you for showing up every week for your teammates and for every neighbor who walks through our doors. We are so glad you are part of this team.
Looking for a fun way to give back this fall? Join us for the Community Food Drive at First Friday in NOTO, running August through November at Munch Market, 800 N. Kansas Avenue in Topeka’s NOTO Arts District. Bring canned food donations on the first Friday of each month — every item donated goes directly to the SENT Inc. Southside Filling Station food pantry to help feed families in our community. As a bonus, donors are entered for a chance to win a $150 Matroshka’s Tattoo gift card. A huge thank you to our sponsors, Luthi & Associates Inc. and American Family Insurance, for making this event possible. Donate cans. Feed families. Win big!
Want to know what we are thinking, talking about, and working toward? Visit the SENT Inc. Commentary page for recent program updates, organizational news, and impact stories straight from our team.
SENT Inc. Commentary
The Partnership Hour
🗓️ A one-hour event held most months on the third Friday, giving community partners a close look at SENT’s work. Upcoming dates: October 16 | November 20 | December 18
🗓️ October 5 | November 15 | December 7
Join us for one of our upcoming Homebuyer workshops—designed to help you understand the process, build confidence, and explore real opportunities. Details and times found online.
Halloween Costume Collection
🗓️ September 1–30, 2026
Halloween Costume Giveaway + Child Mental Wellness Fair
🗓️ October 10, 2026
Pictures with Santa & Family Health Fair
🗓️ December 12, 2026