Area businesses raise more than 60k for suicide prevention

(ABC 6 News) – Two suicide prevention organizations received a very generous gift in the form of a large donation Tuesday.

Haley Comfort Systems, Chip Shots, The Purple Goat, Active PT, and ETS Performance raised more than $65,000 during the month of October.

Haley’s raised more than $20,000 for every furnace, air conditioner, and fireplace that was sold. That money was combined with what was raised by other organizations during Oktoberfest.

Tuesday afternoon, both the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Alliance on Mental Illness received the checks.

The mission is hitting close to home for some of the members. One of them is Amanda Leininger,  the Area Director for Minnesota for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“I lost a close friend right after college. She took her own life, and that has always stuck with me. We were very close, and it’s really become something I am very passionate about.”

Both mental health groups are very grateful for the donation, saying the money will go towards great efforts.

The next step for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is to visit schools so they can educate students on the symptoms of depression as well as the resources to get help.