The Millersville Lions Club is adding a local flavor to an international idea.

The nonprofit group will hold Roar for Mental Health Awareness on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church's gymnasium, 2111 Millersville Pike, Lancaster.

"Lions Club International has global initiatives, and this year at the convention they added mental health awareness," said Pat Benson, who is the vice governor for District 14 and will become district governor in two years. "Our past district governor, Deb Keeports, thought it would be nice if we could do some kind of event for Mental Health Week, which is the week of Oct. 5."

Benson, Keeports, and Millersville Lions Club second vice president Deb Bagnoli went to work. "Deb and I, and the other Deb, got together, and we came up with an idea of having a mental health awareness event," Benson said.

Bagnoli stated, "When I knew this was coming up, I started googling mental health and what things do we need to make this happen."

Bagnoli reached out to a couple counseling services she noticed at Millersville Community Church and made contact with various local organizations.

There will be numerous vendors at the event, as well as activities. Representatives from LEMSA; a group that sends cards to veterans, seniors, and children in the hospital; KPETS; Building Bridges; and WellSpan Philhaven will be on hand.

The list of offerings from vendors will include rock painting, learning to meditate, music therapy, coloring books, and an origami demonstration. Benson saw a television report about a young woman who had mental health issues and found that origami was a way for her to relieve stress.

Benson cited the importance of the event. "I think everybody in their own way is suffering from some type of mental health (issue), be it lonely, be it financial, be it whatever," she said. "The Lions Club is trying to put something together to let people know there's help out there for them if they have an issue. A lot of these vendors are going to come, and they'll talk to people, and then they'll let people know they're here to help you. I think that's the biggest thing that I want to get out is, if you need help, there's people here to help."

Bagnoli can relate. "I suffer from a lot of stress and depression, and what I find works for me is physical therapy, exercise," she said. "I reached out to Brightside Community Center because I do go to the gym there as well. We're going to have a chair yoga class for 45 minutes (from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.). I'm hoping a lot of people participate in that and it shows them it will make you feel good after you're done."

Benson added that no one is immune. "In talking with the police chief in Millersville (Jeffrey Margevich), it was really interesting because he actually suggested some other groups of people for me to get and reach out to," she said. "He said, 'You know what, Pat? Police (officers) today need something like this.' And I thought that was touching. That's what I hope that we would get out of this. If we help one person, we have (made a difference)."

The Willow Street and Lancaster clubs are helping Millersville with the event.

Anyone interested in being a vendor and sharing their expertise on mental health can email Benson at pattycake119@comcast.net or Bagnoli at baglady2030@yahoo.com up to the day of the event.