When more than 80 Grainger employees volunteered with Erika's Lighthouse, they came together around a shared purpose: expanding access to mental health resources for young people across the Greater Chicago area.
Through two volunteer events in 2025 and 2026, the corporate partnership assembled and distributed 900 Good Mental Health Toolkits to youth-serving organizations throughout the city.
According to national data from Mental Health America (MHA), 20% of youth experience a major depressive episode annually, and statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) show that 50% of all lifetime mental health conditions begin before age 14, making early community intervention critical.
For many Grainger employees, the opportunity to volunteer with Erika's Lighthouse resonated because of experiences within their own families, friendships, and communities. The partnership provided a tangible way to support young people while helping expand access to trusted mental health resources in high-need areas.
The partnership provided a tangible way to support young people while helping expand access to trusted mental health resources.
"Partnering with Erika's Lighthouse gives our team members a meaningful way to support mental health, encourage open and honest conversations, and help expand access to critical resources in the communities where we live and serve. Many of us have personal connections to someone who has needed mental health support, whether it be for ourselves, a family member, friend or colleague. Erika's Lighthouse's ability to not just increase awareness, but provide needed resources to both students and educators is crucial to improving and promoting good mental health in children and young adults."
— Barry Greenhouse, Senior Vice President, Grainger Merchandising, Supplier Management and Marketing
The partnership unfolded through two volunteer events that transformed a few hours of teamwork into resources that could support young people long after the events ended.
Approximately 50 Grainger employees assembled 600 Good Mental Health Toolkits that were distributed through North Chicago Community Partners. The toolkits provided practical resources designed to help young people better understand mental health, reduce stigma, and identify trusted sources of support in their schools and homes.
Earlier in the initiative, members of Grainger's legal team gathered at the Chicago Botanic Gardens to assemble an additional 300 toolkits. Those resources were distributed through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chicago, helping extend mental health resources to youth participating in mentoring relationships throughout the city.
The impact of the partnership extended beyond the number of toolkits assembled.The events created opportunities for employees to connect around an issue that affects families and communities everywhere while helping ensure that young people had access to resources that encourage open conversations about mental health.
By leveraging corporate volunteer hours, Erika's Lighthouse ensures its evidence-informed mental health resources remain 100% free for schools, families, and community groups.
"One of the biggest takeaways from the Good Mental Health Toolkit event was seeing what's possible when people come together around a purpose they deeply care about. In a relatively short amount of time, our hands-on efforts resulted in hundreds of toolkits that will expand access to mental health resources for young people and help support healthier communities. Our teams were proud to experience that impact together."
— Barry Greenhouse, Senior Vice President, Grainger
Whether you're looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity or a way to support youth mental health in your community, Erika's Lighthouse can help your team make a difference.
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