Abuse and suicide awareness photo shoot event will be Feb. 20 in Bunnell

Find Your Peace by Pieces is sponsoring the free event with other community partners.


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  • | 4:30 p.m. January 18, 2021
Toni Mayes and her husband, Charles Mayes, directors of Find Your Peace by Pieces, are suicide survivors. Courtesy photo
Toni Mayes and her husband, Charles Mayes, directors of Find Your Peace by Pieces, are suicide survivors. Courtesy photo
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Find Your Peace by Pieces is amping up for its next event this Feb. 20, to bring awareness to abuse and suicide survivors with the Find Your Peace Self Love Abuse and Suicide Survivors Free Photo Shoot. The event will be held at Jessica Gray Photography in Bunnell, in collaboration with Lunar Sol boutique.

“Community involvement — the little things (that are really the big things) like helping people feel loved and cared for,” said Toni Mayes, director/founder of Find Your Peace by Pieces. “We can fight to bring in as many mental health services as possible, but if we don’t have connections with each other, with our community, what good will it do?"

The nonprofit isn't just hoping to help those considering suicide but also those who feel alone.

"We all need to know people care," she said. "It’s about the mom who is about to have a breakdown and just needs a friend, a dad who lost his job and needs to know he's not alone in this, the kids that can't play with their friends because of the pandemic; anyone and everyone needing to hear, ‘Don’t give up’ at some point.”

"Whatever your pieces of wellness may be, one of them should be community. We need each other.”

—TONI MAYES

The event will be a photoshoot in collaboration with Jessica Gray Photography and Lunar Sol Boutique.

“We love you and want you to feel seen, heard, beautiful, loved, and special,” said Jessica Gray in the event's Facebook page.

“This is something I have been wanting to do for a while, so I'm incredibly happy Jessica wanted to join me in this project,” Mayes said. “We already have our first day filling up, and the plan is to get as many people to sign up as possible by Feb. 1.”

Those photographed will receive three digital files from their personal photo-session, and an option to purchase more if they wish. Clean Eats will be providing healthy snacks for the event. The Family Life Center is helping get the word out for this event, and will be onsite for support, along with Toni Mayes.

“These photos show a progression, a journey,” Mayes said. “I did my photo shoot last night to start it off and to show others. I can say it was emotional, empowering and amazing.”

For more information regarding the Find Your Peace Self Love Abuse and Suicide Survivors Free Photo Shoot call Gray at 386-264-8549, or find her on her Facebook business page to make an appointment. Deadline to call for an appointment is Feb. 1.

 

Other Find Your Piece initiatives

Valentine's Cards

The organization has several other ongoing projects worth a highlight, such as the Valentine Cards for Assisted Living. Mayes urges community members to write out thoughtful and joyous cards for those at assisted living facilities to enjoy this Valentine's Day. The plan is to do more for different reasons throughout the year.

To help, call Mayes at 386-237-2920 or email [email protected]. To contribute to the Valentines for Assisted Living, please mail in to Toni Mayes, P.O. Box 351522, Palm Coast, FL, 32135. Donation checks made out to Find Your Peace by Pieces.

Wellness toolkits

Pieces of Peace mental wellness toolkits (POP’s) are also being assembled for counselors, schools and the local homeless community. The organization recently assembled 50 POP bags for the students at FPC who recently lost their principal, James “Tom” Russell, to COVID-19.

“The counselors give them out as needed — a pop of brightness for someone's day,” Mayes said.

Donation bins for the Homeless POP response bags are located at the following locations:

  • Moonrise Brewing Company, located in European Village, Palm Coast
  • Jessica Gray Photography, in Bunnell (Please call before drop off)
  • Coquina Coast Brewing Company, in Flagler Beach

Wishlist for Homeless POP bags:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3VH92NZBJXPIO?ref_=wl_share

Wishlist for POP bags for schools, counselors, and other groups/needs:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2ZNMI5OWG1EHN?ref_=wl_share

PayPal for monetary donations for any initiatives of Find Your Peace by Pieces: [email protected]

Yoga sessions

Find Your Peace by Pieces plans to offer free/donation based restorative yoga/meditation sessions for all ages. To volunteer as a yoga instructor contact Mayes at 386-237-2920 or email at [email protected]. Visit facebook.com/peacebypieceshealingandwellness for more information.

The organization is currently looking for covered outdoor areas to conduct community restorative yoga classes.

 

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