Delta Upsilon Fraternity is hosting the To Write Love On Her Arms benefit for UTA community members to write their personal stories and receive words of encouragement from volunteers. Participants can write their personal experiences with depression on a white board, give money for custom “Live and Write Love: Nov. 7-11” wristbands and to have Love or other encouraging phrases written on their arms.
According to its website, To Write Love On Her Arms is a movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.
Melissa Gonzales, nursing sophomore and event volunteer, said she takes the event very personally because the dangers of depression have affected her family directly.
Gonzales believes the movement is to not only raise awareness but to also encourage those who are troubled to seek help and to remember those who passed away.
Members of Delta Upsilon will be out on the Central Library mall accepting donations and raising awareness 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday. Members will release balloons with names of those affected by depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide attached to them as a means to make a more physical way to commemorate anybody who has gone through depression, said Gonzales.
UTA alumnus Salvador Valdes made a recommendation to Delta Upsilon president Neil Hall to have the movement as the organization’s fundraiser this year. Hall said Valdes got the idea from his sister.
