May is mental health awareness month. The United Way of Tri-County- which provides critical mental health services like Call 2 Talk- a 24 hour, 365 days a week crisis line- recently hosted a Hope Blooms event at their community garden downtown. Hope Blooms brought together mental health organizations and services from all over the community to inform and support residents- including a little help from our four legged friends! The Pets and People Foundation- a nonprofit which specializes in animal therapy- was there to melt away anxiety and other stressors with lots of love and cuddles! The Frame’s Mackenzie Wright spoke to Pet’s and People’s Event Coordinator Serena Keating, to learn more about how pets can help us navigate our mental health. Pets and People has about 100 teams, but they are in desperate need for more to accommodate the many event requests they receive daily. If you’re interested in getting involved you can visit their website at petsandpeoplefoundation.org
This week on The Frame: the School Committee and City Council vote on a proposed contract to acquire school buses as efforts continue to bring drivers in-house, work begins on an expansion to Framingham’s Logan Express garage, and the city hosts its annual tree lighting ceremony in front of the Memorial Building. Plus: a look at the giant toy soldiers that adorn the community during the holidays—how they came about, and what goes into making this tradition a reality.