Sasquatch sighting in Washington

WASHINGTON - The elusive Sasquatch has come out of hiding to raise awareness about metal health, and his name is Darryl.

Darryl has been jumping from yard to yard the last few days, telling residents about mental health services and raising money for the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program.

The small, moving Sasquatch is a project of the Washington County Mental Health Coalition.

The organization was founded in 2015 after a survey of the county found access to mental health care as a priority, said Bobbie Wulf, the mental health and disabilities service director in Washington County. The coalition was founded with a variety of individuals in different fields connected to mental health.

Wulf said the group does various projects to educate, bring awareness and connect residents to resources. When they received grant money, the group looked to find a new project.

Roberta Sloat, with Washington County Public Health, said during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people struggled with overwhelming problems. Sloat said they wanted to do something fun that also helps raise awareness.

Darryl was inspired by a pig that is decorated every holiday on Highway 34, Sloat said.

'We thought if we have a funny creature that we can have travel, and dress him up for different season we can raise awareness,” Sloat said.

Darryl started on Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski's lawn. He comes with a letter explaining the program and gives instructions on how to get him moved to a new lawn.

'Someone has obviously sent me to you because they think you are amazing, and I would like to see as many people as I can while I am in town,” Darryl says in the letter.

Residents are asked to donate to the HACAP Christmas adopt-a-family program and specify Washington County. An $8 donation sends him to a random location and a $10 donation sends him to a specific home. Pettit-Majewski said it was fun to choose who to send him to.

This particular donation program ends on Dec. 23. In the future, Darryl will help raise money for other projects, Wulf said.