Housing Options has worked to
tend the cemetery at the Gowanda Psychiatric Center. The effort was
started by Sandra Hooten, a beloved member of the Housing Options Made Easy
staff that passed away in September of 2005. Sandra had a large
impact on the agency and the unmarked graves at this cemetery typify her loving
nature and how much she cared for life, dignity, and the issues associated with
stigma and mental illness.
"I just wept," she said. "I just couldn't believe life could be so . . .
disregarded. It's not something you forget."
At her inspiration members of the community worked to clean up the cemetery and
honored the number graves by releasing butterflies to lend some dignity to honor
their passing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
