‘A Sweet Reminder’ cards connect Hill community to helping resources
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Before sunrise on Sept. 23, a routine drive onto Hill Air Force Base became a moment of connection as members of the Hill community greeted people entering the installation with candy and encouraging messages.
A team of helping-agency personnel and volunteers prepared 10,000 “A Sweet Reminder” cards for the outreach, held at all three gates from 5 to 8 a.m. During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the cards paired uplifting messages with contact information for Hill AFB helping agencies.
The cards featured messages including “You are not alone and the world is better with you in it.”
“We just wanted to start everyone’s day with a moment of genuine connection,” said Brittany Pirrello, a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response specialist with the 75th Air Base Wing. “If someone was having a tough morning, we hoped this small gesture and a sweet treat would remind them that they aren’t carrying their burdens alone.”
The reverse side of each card lists resources including chaplains, mental health, family advocacy, the Military and Family Readiness Center, the Employee Assistance Program and other Hill AFB helping agencies. Recipients can also text HILLCONNECT to 94000 or scan the card's QR code to find additional support information.
Pirrello said the campaign was intended to help make conversations about mental health and seeking help more approachable while ensuring people know where to turn when they need support.
“Suicide prevention isn’t just about crisis response; it’s about building a culture where we actively look out for one another every day,” Pirrello said.
The Chapel team and Hill AFB President’s Council provided candy for the outreach. SAPR and Integrated Resilience Office personnel, suicide prevention trainers and other volunteers supported card assembly, planning and distribution, while the 75th Security Forces Squadron coordinated gate operations to enable the outreach safely.
Pirrello said the gate distribution also allowed volunteers to greet coworkers as they arrived for work, giving colleagues an opportunity to connect outside their usual work settings and learn more about the helping agencies supporting the installation.
Volunteers later told Pirrello that several recipients said the cards came at a time when they were going through a difficult period. One recipient was grieving the loss of someone close to them.
“This succeeded because our community showed up for each other,” Pirrello said. “That collaboration and community is exactly what suicide prevention is about.”
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