Amy Noble and Eddie Paluch with the Dunkirk Police Department are pictured with care bags assembled for the homeless.

Staff from the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Center in Dunkirk, have assembled care bags for the homeless.

The team packed the bags with essential items such as Gatorade, hand warmers, hygiene products, Narcan, winter hats, socks, and mental health resources. The care bags aim to provide immediate relief and support to those facing homelessness during the colder months.

“This initiative is deeply personal to me,” said Shannon Fisk, a department intern who spearheaded the project. “My experiences working with the county’s homeless population, including directing the Code Blue Warming Center at the Gateway Center, inspired me to make these care bags. It’s a way to give back and ensure our community members in need feel supported.”

The care bags were distributed to local partners actively serving the homeless, including the Dunkirk Police Department, Probation Services, and the Dunkirk Mental Health Association.

The Department of Mental Hygiene’s team system (SQUAD,) divides clinicians into teams to lead initiatives that enhance services for clients and staff. This SQUAD is comprised of Shannon Fisk, Ashlie Hall, Melissa Rodriguez Arroyo, Michelle Merritt, Aleyna Westling, and Cyndi Szymanowski.