A nonprofit that primarily helps people with mental health gave back to the community in an effort to keep everyone warm this winter.

A local organization wants to donate as many coats as possible this winter, but they need your help.

The online festival is hosted by Project Support, a nonprofit helping those suffering from mental illness find and pay for treatment. Whether you have a severe mental illness or you just have days that you’re feeling down we want that to be talked about more. We want that stigma to go away for mental illness and mental health in general and pets are a great way to do that,” said Gobble. Barktober Fest isn’t the only thing Project Support has had to adjust due to the pandemic. When mental health services moved to telehealth the nonprofit had to and is still helping clients transition.

VINTON, Va. - Roanoke Valley pet lovers let their dogs out in the name of mental health. Mental health organization Project Support put together the festival. Event organizer and Project Support Director Kayla Gobble says the goal was to celebrate dogs, while also drawing attention to how much pets can help mental health. "We want everyone to show it is OK to have issues with mental health and talk about that. The money from Barktoberfest will go towards Project Support.