Borrow My Angel

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but for Chuck Dow, it’s something that never really turns off.

Dow is the founder of “Borrow My Angel,” a nonprofit built around a simple idea. Sometimes, when someone is struggling, they just need a little extra support. Maybe even someone else’s “angel,” so to speak.

The idea came from a very personal place.

Dow’s younger sister, Charity, battled mental health issues for years. It started when she was just 12. There were moments when things seemed better, then times when they weren’t. That up-and-down cycle stuck with him.

One moment, though, never left.

After one of her later suicide attempts, Dow remembers walking into the hospital and hearing her say just a few words. She told him she was upset it hadn’t worked. That feeling, he said, was hard to shake. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t sadness. It was a kind of emptiness.

He went home that day and started writing. Music was his outlet at the time. And one thought kept coming back.

What if someone could “borrow” a little bit of hope from someone else?

That’s where “Borrow My Angel” began. First as a song. Then, slowly, something more.

The nonprofit officially got going around 2014. Since then, it’s grown into a way to get people talking about mental health. And maybe more importantly, listening.

Dow says one of the biggest challenges is still the stigma. People tend to say they’re “fine,” even when they’re not. It’s easier that way. Less uncomfortable.

But he believes that’s where change starts.

“It’s okay to not be okay,” he said. “There’s strength in being honest about that.”

The group encourages simple steps. Ask someone how they’re doing. And mean it. Be willing to hear the real answer.

For those who want to get involved, Dow points to the group’s pledge. It’s a small commitment, but it matters. Things like taking care of yourself, learning more about mental health, and being a safe place for others.

Nothing complicated. Just showing up.

Because sometimes, that’s enough to make a difference.