Ice cream social supports man's memorial fund

Editor's note: Shelbi Neidler is the sister of the late Regan Neibler, who passed away in 2022. To honor her brother's memory and raise awareness for mental health, Shelbi helped start a memorial fund, serving as its president/chair, and she's overseeing a fundraiser this weekend. PERKINS TWP. — May marks Mental Health Awareness Month — and, in recognition of it, the Regan Neidler Memorial Fund will host One Scoop at a Time: Ice Cream Social. It's scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday inside the Perkins High School cafeteria, 3714 Campbell St, Sandusky. This event is exclusive to Perkins students, teachers, staff and district families in grades K–12. The free event is designed to create a positive, welcoming and uplifting environment where conversations surrounding mental health feel more approachable and supportive for students, families and staff members of all ages. Attendees can enjoy free ice cream, music and games, such as giant Jenga, Connect Four and other activities throughout the afternoon. Local counselors and therapists will also be present to meet with families and provide information about available mental health resources and support services within the community. The event's goal aims to encourage connection and conversation in a relaxed setting while helping reduce the stigma often associated with discussions surrounding mental health and suicide prevention. Whether families stop by for a few minutes or stay for the full event, we hope the ice cream social will provide an opportunity for the community to connect, unwind and take part in something meaningful together before the Perkins varsity baseball game at noon. The Regan Neidler Memorial Fund was established in 2022 following the loss of my brother, Regan Neidler, to suicide at the age of 25. Since then, the nonprofit organization has focused on honoring his memory by spreading mental health and suicide prevention awareness, education and resources throughout the local community. The Neidler family has deep roots in the Sandusky area. Regan; our parents, Randy and Stephanie; along with myself were all born and raised in Sandusky and have remained committed to creating a lasting and positive impact within the community through outreach, fundraising, and advocacy efforts. Regan was a 2015 graduate of Perkins High School and EHOVE Career Center where he studied diesel tech. Through fundraising efforts and generous community donations, the organization has awarded $5,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors in EHOVE's diesel tech program in honor of Regan's memory. In addition to scholarship funding, the memorial fund has donated $4,000 to local and national mental health and suicide prevention nonprofit organizations to support their missions and outreach efforts. The decision to keep this year's event limited to Perkins families was intentional because it is the first ice cream social they've hosted. The organization hopes to continue growing the event annually and eventually open it to the broader community in future years. Community members who are unable to attend but would like to learn more about the Regan Neidler Memorial Fund or make a donation can visit rallyforregan.org.