WESTFIELD — What began as a few employees wishing to support the family of Owen J. Miller, a 13-year-old Chautauqua Lake student who recently passed away, has turned into a community-wide anti-bullying campaign organized by Absolut Care of Westfield. All week long, employees and residents are raising awareness about the effects of bullying and raising money for a scholarship in Miller’s memory. The community is invited to stop in and support the campaign, which includes raffles, basket auctions and more.

According to Felicia Nichols, director of nursing, “A few of our nurses from Ripley know the family of Owen Miller, who took his own life last month. They wanted to do something to help the family and to raise awareness about the effects of bullying.” Medical Records Director Terri Gilbert and Business Director Jami Allen took it a step further by ordering Absolut of Westfield “Stomp Out Bullying” t-shirts and “Be a buddy, not a bully” bracelets, which they have been selling for the past few weeks. “We’ve already sold over 2,000 bracelets at $2 each and between 30 and 50 shirts at $20 each,” Nichols reported. All proceeds go to a scholarship fund in Miller’s name to be awarded to a Chautauqua Lake student; Nichols hopes that this will become an annual award.

On Monday, all residents wore their shirts and bracelets, which are also available for community members to purchase at the reception desk. This week includes a full schedule of fundraisers and events to support the campaign. On Monday, Westfield students attended an ice cream social at Absolut Care. Tickets for the 50/50 raffle are available to purchase at the reception desk, and the drawing takes place later today. The community can also stop in to purchase tickets for the basket chance auction. “We have any and every kind of basket,” said Nichols, who included examples such as a baby shower basket, sports-themed baskets, baskets with alcoholic beverages for adults and more. The basket drawings will take place on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Absolut Care will be holding the drawing for a wreath of lottery tickets, and on Friday, there will be a hot dog sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. From now until Friday, community members can stop in and purchase tickets to win the “Big Daddy” camping chair, which stands at an impressive 66 inches tall! Tickets are one for $5 and three for $10, and the drawing will take place during Friday’s hot dog sale.

“There has been such huge support for our campaign already,” said Nichols. “We’ve been marketing it on our Absolut Care (Westfield, NY) Facebook page and the Facebook group for What’s Happening, Westfield NY? and the response has been amazing. We’ve even had people out of state contacting us to buy bracelets!”

Nichols invites the community to stop in anytime this week to participate in the raffles, hot dog sale or to purchase shirts or bracelets. Absolut Care of Westfield also invites community members to take part in the upcoming breast cancer walk and benefit on Saturday, Oct. 20. For more information, stop by Absolut Care at 26 Cass St. in Westfield or call 326-4646.

Submitted Photo
On Wednesday, the basket raffles take place, and on Friday, the winner for the “Big Daddy” camp chair raffle will be drawn.