BlessUP is a texting and youth encouragement initiative that was created in the spring of 2020. It all started when a few of our Youth Unlimited staff were beginning to see just much of an impact the pandemic was having on the mental health of youth and young adults around the world. Being asked to stay at home during the lockdown phases of 2020, young people all around were experiencing seasons of loneliness, anxiety and depression. So in order to combat this, Mark, Paula and the communications team created BlessUP: an initiative designed to bring light into the dark places and encourage youth and young adults in the GTA and beyond.