(July 14, 2016) During its eight-year tenure, Jesse’s Paddle has grown from a memorial of one young man’s life and the river he worked on and loved to a vital fundraiser supporting scholarship, educational initiatives, awareness plans and response training to assist during mental health crises.
“The main things are the program has grown and the demand for our services has grown,” Kim Klump, founder of the paddle, said. “That we are sustaining or increasing the amount we collect every year is mindboggling and heartwarming — it’s recognition of the difference we’re making.”
As a consequence, the paddle has become more and more important to the scholarship foundation named in honor of Jesse Klump as the number of people that depend on it increases, and the demand for resources increases.
“We do health fairs and a lot of other events. We visit churches, groups like the AARP and schools including Salisbury University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Wor-Wic Community College either as instructors or guest speakers,” she said.
Specifically, the foundation trains people to recognize and attend people experiencing a mental health crisis.
“It all finishes with the arrival of professional help. This isn’t crisis intervention, it’s more on the education and awareness side, like mental health’s version of CPR,” she explained.
The basics, Klump said, are focused on the time before thought becomes action — intervening before suicidal ideation occurs.
“You’ve got to get them before it becomes a crisis, show compassion and start talking. Understand this person is in pain. Maintain eye contact and gain their trust,” she said. “If you can do that, you might then be able to contact someone else, or get the person to contact someone else.”
Those are the basics of the situation, Klump said, and will not replace any formal training.
Klump is also a certified grief counselor, and is involved with a support group for survivors every third Wednesday of the month at the Berlin Health Center across the street from Atlantic General Hospital from 6 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.
“When we started, we didn’t know how long it would be sustainable,” Klump said. “Then, we didn’t know if the sustainability came from great need or because of the services we provide. It turns out, it was a combination of both.”
Much like the event is a combination of disparate notions — it is tribute to Jesse Klump’s life, as well as the lifeline for students that depend on its scholarships at the same time it is a fun and lighthearted event.
“It started as a way to remember my brother and give back to the community that supported us,” Leah Klump said. “We’re doing something on the river where he worked and we’re bringing awareness to where it matters most — in our home.”
The event starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Pocomoke River Canoe Company at the foot of the drawbridge in Snow Hill. The poker run paddle is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.
Before the paddle begins, five boats will be sent out along the Pocomoke River, each with a deck of cards separated into 52 envelopes. Each paddle participant chooses one card from each boat and returns to the canoe company. Upon returning, the boat with the best poker hand wins better prizes — all participants get something, Leah said.
The foundation requests $25 per boat for those participating in the paddle.
The paddle will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks and desserts for free. There will be a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction and live music with Nick Haglich opening up, and Gabe and Gigi playing during the event.
For more information visit www.jessespaddle.org.
“The main things are the program has grown and the demand for our services has grown,” Kim Klump, founder of the paddle, said. “That we are sustaining or increasing the amount we collect every year is mindboggling and heartwarming — it’s recognition of the difference we’re making.”
As a consequence, the paddle has become more and more important to the scholarship foundation named in honor of Jesse Klump as the number of people that depend on it increases, and the demand for resources increases.
“We do health fairs and a lot of other events. We visit churches, groups like the AARP and schools including Salisbury University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Wor-Wic Community College either as instructors or guest speakers,” she said.
Specifically, the foundation trains people to recognize and attend people experiencing a mental health crisis.
“It all finishes with the arrival of professional help. This isn’t crisis intervention, it’s more on the education and awareness side, like mental health’s version of CPR,” she explained.
The basics, Klump said, are focused on the time before thought becomes action — intervening before suicidal ideation occurs.
“You’ve got to get them before it becomes a crisis, show compassion and start talking. Understand this person is in pain. Maintain eye contact and gain their trust,” she said. “If you can do that, you might then be able to contact someone else, or get the person to contact someone else.”
Those are the basics of the situation, Klump said, and will not replace any formal training.
Klump is also a certified grief counselor, and is involved with a support group for survivors every third Wednesday of the month at the Berlin Health Center across the street from Atlantic General Hospital from 6 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.
“When we started, we didn’t know how long it would be sustainable,” Klump said. “Then, we didn’t know if the sustainability came from great need or because of the services we provide. It turns out, it was a combination of both.”
Much like the event is a combination of disparate notions — it is tribute to Jesse Klump’s life, as well as the lifeline for students that depend on its scholarships at the same time it is a fun and lighthearted event.
“It started as a way to remember my brother and give back to the community that supported us,” Leah Klump said. “We’re doing something on the river where he worked and we’re bringing awareness to where it matters most — in our home.”
The event starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Pocomoke River Canoe Company at the foot of the drawbridge in Snow Hill. The poker run paddle is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.
Before the paddle begins, five boats will be sent out along the Pocomoke River, each with a deck of cards separated into 52 envelopes. Each paddle participant chooses one card from each boat and returns to the canoe company. Upon returning, the boat with the best poker hand wins better prizes — all participants get something, Leah said.
The foundation requests $25 per boat for those participating in the paddle.
The paddle will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks and desserts for free. There will be a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction and live music with Nick Haglich opening up, and Gabe and Gigi playing during the event.
For more information visit www.jessespaddle.org.