Loose Leaf Notes

The Golden Ticket benefit concert was a collaboration of Tommy Edwards’ Heart of Virginia, Joe Klein’s Inward Bound Mindfulness Education (iBme) and Grace McCutchan of the Black Water Loft coffee house.  Conceived of by McCutchan after losing a loved-one to suicide, the goal of the event was to raise awareness about mental health.   It featured musical performances, speakers and storytelling and was attended by between 100 and 150 people.

“It showcased the true meaning of community in the way everyone came together for a really good cause,” McCutchan was quoted in The Floyd Press as saying. “It healed me and I feel that it helped others too.  The energy of the event made everyone feel good and feel like they are not alone … and that it’s okay to talk about mental health.  People were able to find out about resources available to them and hear people sing songs and tell their stories of what happened to them through tough times.”

Grace was the catalyst and primary organizer, but she had a lot of help. “I gave everyone jobs. My family and friends did whatever I needed them to without hesitation,” she said.  The June Bug Center’s Black Box Theater, where the November 3^rd event was held, was decorated in café lounge style. Performers included Edwards (pictured above); singer Adelee with Wanda Combs on piano (pictured below); Zeph Allen of ALLiENS fame; local mandolin player Abe Gorskey; Butch Robins, master of the 5-stringed banjo; The Deer Run Drifters, whose members were friends of the young man that committed suicide, and others.

A silent auction of local artists’ works helped to raise $2,500 for the Heart of Virginia and iBme. The Heart of Virginia and Music 4 Mental Health are non-profits founded by musician Tommy Edwards, following the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, to bring awareness to mental health through music. Edwards, a VA Tech alumnus and local football hall of fame recipient who has dealt with his own mental health issues, shared his story with Golden Ticket attendees.  iBme is a non-profit that provides outreach programs and retreats for improving the lives of teens, young adults, parents and professionals.  Klein, a licensed professional counselor and founder of iBme, spoke at the event.

“I was inspired by the way one person addressing her own sorrow head-on rallied our community in support of mutual healing,” Klein said about McCutchan.  iBme will be hosting monthly drug/alcohol free authentic relating events where young people and the young at heart can gather to share stories, music, poetry and games, Klein reported.  Training for young adults and elders who want to serve as mentors for local teens will be held at the June Bug Center on December 1^st and 8^th from 1:00 to 4:00.

Post notes:  You can read the story I wrote about The Golden Ticket, which appeared in The Floyd Press on October 27, HERE.  I was in Massachusetts and not able to attend the event. My husband Joe Klein took most of the above photos, which include: Joe and Grace on stage, a shot of the newly revitalized June Bug Center, Tommy Edwards performing, Adelee and Wanda Combs performing, The Deer Run Drifters and Zeph Allen. Watch a video of Chris Link of The Deer Run Drifters sing a band original, ‘everyone needs a saving grace’ HERE.