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On Saturday, the Verne Drive-In outdoor theater honored the late Carson Ehde and more than 60 other individuals in the area who lost their lives due to mental illness and suicide.
The Rozeboom family, which owns the theater, offered free admission to the season’s final night of movies as a way to increase awareness of the mental health crisis.
Grieving friends and family were offered ballons to write messages on and release following a tribute video on the big screen featuring photographs of those whose lives were lost to suicide and mental illness.
Donation boxes and QR codes accepted contributions for the newly established fund, “Carson’s Cause,” through the Luverne Area Community Foundation.
Workers donated their concession tips and the drive-in family matched cash contributions and donated concessions proceeds for a total of $5,000 in cash.
Other donations and electronic gifts bring the Carson’s Cause fund to nearly $13,000.
The fund was established following Ehde’s Sept. 13 death to support local efforts to educate youth and the community on mental health and suicide prevention.
See luvacf.org for more information.