Mental health board picks Kelly successor

Ashley Reynolds Marshall, a 2004 psychology graduate of Hollins University and a recent staff member of United Way, will succeed Diane Kelly as executive director of Mental Health America. Kelly is retiring after 29 years in the position at the end of this week.

MHA is a non-profit organization locally based and aimed especially at the education of all ages in many aspects of mental health and illness. All financial contributions are tax-deductible. Offices are at 10 E. Church Ave. in the Center of the Square area of downtown Roanoke.

Marshall is also a graduate of the law school of the College of William and Mary and has a master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Tech. She is a former magistrate judge in the 23rd Judicial District. At the United Way office she has managed financial strategies.

School supply drive open for donations

Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries (SAEM) during January is seeking donations of school supplies to be made available to elementary school pupils from low-income households eligible for free school lunches.  Seven schools serving the City of Salem and three West County communities are special sites for their distribution. Especially needed are loose leaf notebook paper wide ruled, mottled cover composition books, glue sticks, crayons, yellow #2 pencils, spiral notebooks, crayons, scissors and coloring pencils. The supplies may be taken to the Joan Dorsey Clothing Closet, 825 S. Colorado St. Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by Feb. 17.

– Submitted by Frances Stebbins