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E&J’s Deli Pubs makes contribution to local suicide prevention efforts

Crystal Graham
ej's suicide prevention
Kim Sours (left) and Crystal Graham (right) with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention accept a check from Jon Stallard and Chris Opstad Allen with E&J’s Deli Pub in Waynesboro. (Photo by Chris Graham)

E&J’s Deli Pub in Waynesboro presented a check to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for $1743.00 toward the Greater Augusta Out of the Darkness Walk held in October.

The restaurant selected AFSP to receive a percentage of food sales on Tuesdays during the months of September, October and November.

“This was a big success for us, and we are proud of the outcome,” said Jon Stallard, owner of E&J’s.

The donation was the largest single amount donated to the walk. With the donation, the walk will exceed more than $58,000 in total contributions. The walk goal was $50,000.

Donations for the walk and efforts to stop suicide are accepted through December 31.

“We really want to thank Jon and his staff for their support of AFSP,” said Kim Sours, Greater Augusta walk chair. “It means so much to see small businesses be a part of the effort in our community to save lives.”

Sours’ daughter, Keri, died by suicide three years ago. She has led the walk in Staunton for two years.

“With the success of the walk and fundraising efforts like the one at E&J’s, we will be able to bring important training and education to our community,” Sours said. “Together, we will work to put an end to suicide and work to start a healthy conversation about mental health.”

E&J’s Deli Pub designates a charity, family or cause each month, with 20 percent of food sales on Tuesdays going to the cause. For December, Tennessee’s Helping Hearts Foundation was selected as the recipient with aid going to help with fire damage in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Past recipients include the families of Sawyer Jane, Brady Kier and Meredith Furr.

For more information on E&J’s, visit eandjsdelipub.com.

For more information on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, visit afsp.org/virginia.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for nearly 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.