Joe and Sheryl Stephens Story

We were changed forever when we received the news that our son, Jon, had died by suicide. Jon had no mental health issues that we were aware of. He was embarking on a new adventure headed off to college across the country when he lost perspective and chose to end his life. In the following year, our community experienced several other suicides. Witnessing the shock and devastation of our community, and our own experience, we were gripped with a question, “What can we do?”
In asking that question, the ideas came to spread hope in simple ways. Out of this came three Community Initiatives to spread hope and care through

Simple Signs of Hope
Community Care Cards
Community Walks and Talks

This was just the beginning of the Our City Cares movement. It will be five years this August and since then our community has helped us distribute thousands of signs and care cards.

Our messages are simple universal messages of hope.

Your Life Matters
Never Give Up
Your Story is Still Being Written
You Are Not Alone

If we can save lives by an inspiring message of hope and a phone number with a human voice connected to it, that is our mission and we can do it. Even after five years it sometimes feels like we are just limping along. We sold our businesses and in faith bought an RV. We started planning a trip to visit friends and family leaving on the five-year anniversary of our loss. The trip has evolved to include our signs of hope campaign "How Far Can We Go "??? We don't know but this gives greater purpose to our trip. Taking it on the road to as many states as we can, because suicide is a tragedy that no family should have to endure. It does not end the pain of one it transfers it to those left behind. We will begin in Washington but have plans to stop in Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, and Ohio. The trip will take us through at least 20 states, and we want to leave Signs of Hope in every state along the way. We only need to connect with one Hope Ambassador, "that's you" and the people we will meet along the way.

We are blessed this year to have Vita take over the local campaign, expanding onto more school campuses and our community at large. She is an inspiring young woman with an incredible story of hope with a message that resonates "Never Give Up". We know that she will do great! Please join us and do whatever you can to bring hope to the hurting. You can follow our success in raising the funds and follow our story on the Website Updates and Events - Our City Cares or Our City Cares | Facebook page.

2021-2022 How Far Can We Go?

By Our City Cares

2021-2022 How Far Can We Go?

Signs of Hope Campaign

Team Members