Bay Shore Systems, Inc. continued its tradition of donating to local charities Wednesday when it presented a $52,830.93 check to Spoken Outdoors. The money was raised through Bay Shore’s annual golf tournament.

Spoken Outdoors gives first responders outdoor experiences, primarily fly-fishing trips on drift boats, to step away from the trauma they see on the job. They were chosen as the recipient this year in light of recent events impacting first responders.

“After the Canfield shooting, I think we were all sensitized to what first responders go through,” Bay Shore Systems founder Herb Minatre said. “There's just so much need, but this resonated with us the most this year.”

Spoken Outdoors Executive Director Heath Gunns shared an anecdote before accepting the check about a retired officer with Parkinson’s who contemplated suicide and how the officer benefitted from their program.

“We're out on the river six weeks ago and she's in the boat, shaking, twitching when she realizes that she's not in a boat with somebody she knows,” Gunns said. “An hour later, there's not a tremor in her body. That's what we're doing. A little bit of peace, a little bit of quiet, a little bit of connection.”

Bay Shore Systems has been raising money for charity for the last 28 years and the company’s website says it has raised over $500,000 for local charities. 

“When you can't handle life for whatever reason, (first responders) are the people you call,” Minatre said. “Who does a fireman call when he’s having a hard time? They need safety nets just like we need safety nets.”

In the last year, Spoken Outdoors has been able to take 77 participants on boat days. With the donation, it anticipates helping up to 128 participants who have had to see child abuse or make the call to stop performing CPR on a person.

“I can’t take all their stuff away, but I can give them a minute, a day, a week, where they can take a breath,” Gunns said. “I call it off-gassing. They can dump all that stuff out in an environment where nobody's going to judge them.”

One participant and their wife who went out with Spoken Outdoors told Gunns it was the first time he felt like he was able to breathe and was the first time he and his wife could remember laughing together. Being on the water was a weight off his shoulders and the science backs this up. UC Davis found that simply spending time near water can positively impact health.

“There's a lot of science that talks about the impact of the sound of running water and the presence of running water on cortisol and blood pressure levels,” Gunns said. “We're taking that science and creating an environment where it can do its thing.”

Those seeking help from Spoken Outdoors can do so at no cost thanks to donations such as the one Bay Shore Systems made.

“Bay Shore now has a hand in the mental health and wellness of the first responders in their community,” Gunns said. “Their time, their dollar investment ultimately makes that first responder more prepared to serve them when they need.”