BELLE FOURCHE—Mother Nature brought sunshine and warmth to a day dedicated to highlighting the importance of mental health and suicide prevention awareness at Herrmann Park on Saturday, May 10.
Chalk it Up to Kindness hosted by Out of the Darkness and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) created a variety of activities geared towards both young and old. For the kids there was chalk art led by Alexandra Hansen, balloon animals, cotton candy, and face painting. For the older crowd there was corn hole and a pie in the face fundraiser. PooterQ and Rollin in the Hills food trucks kept event-goers fed.
The event created a light-hearted occasion to learn about a serious subject. “May is Mental Health Month so we wanted to just get out here and share laughs and smiles and sunshine but we are promoting—advocating for mental health policies—like how to get involved through AFSP, and then also just starting conversations,” explained Sonia Ribordy, Co-Chair of the Belle Fourche Out of the Darkness Walk. “We’re just getting conversation going with your loved ones, with people you care about. Sometimes it’s just awkward and sometimes you just need to use those words, even if it’s awkward, to let them know that you care and it might open up an avenue if they need help.”
Chalk it Up to Kindness is tied to the Out of the Darkness Walk scheduled for September 20, 2025. “The walk happens in September—the suicide prevention walk— originally we just wanted to do something for mental health and we do chalk art during the walk. We were just going to do some chalk and have some hopeful, positive messages for people and then it blew up! We added all this other stuff because we want to show people how they can take care of their mental health and to check on each other,” said Ribordy.
One of the fun activities for the day included paying for the right to pie a community leader right in the face! Those stepping up to take a pie in the face for mental health were Randy Schmidt, Belle Fourche Mayor, Michaela Horn, Executive Director of Chamber of Commerce, Wallace Eddy, Belle Fourche Police Officer, Sheri Farley, Pastor at Methodist Church, Bev Watson, Belle Fourche Area Volunteer and Don Ward, Belle Fourche Volunteer Fire Department. Officer Eddy told the crowd, “If you ever had a problem with the City, then Randy is your guy! If I, or any police officer pulled you over before, then I am your guy!” In the end $450.00 was raised to help with the Out of the Darkness Walk in the fall.
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