Hill Air Force Base helping agencies and volunteers distributed 10,000 "A Sweet Reminder" cards at all three installation gates on Sept. 23, 2026. The outreach, held between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., paired candy and uplifting messages with contact information for various support resources in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
The cards featured messages such as "You are not alone and the world is better with you in it." On the reverse side, each card listed resources including chaplains, mental health services, family advocacy, the Military and Family Readiness Center, and the Employee Assistance Program. Recipients can also find additional support by texting HILLCONNECT to 94000 or scanning the QR code on the cards.
Brittany Pirrello, a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response specialist with the 75th Air Base Wing, said the campaign aimed to make conversations about mental health and seeking help more approachable. Pirrello stated that the goal was to ensure people know where to turn when they need support and to build a culture of looking out for one another every day.
The initiative involved collaboration across multiple units. The Chapel team and Hill AFB President’s Council provided the candy, while personnel from the Sexual Assault Prevention and Assault office, the Integrated Resilience Office, and suicide prevention trainers assisted with planning, assembly, and distribution. The 75th Security Forces Squadron coordinated gate operations to ensure the outreach was conducted safely.
Volunteers reported that several recipients noted the cards arrived during difficult periods, including one instance of an individual grieving a loss. Pirrello noted that the gate distribution also allowed volunteers to greet coworkers in a setting outside of their usual work environments, providing an opportunity to connect with colleagues and learn about the installation's helping agencies.
