Neil's Wheels: honoring Neil Barber and ending the stigma of mental illness
Greg Barber started Neil's Wheels in 2009 in honor of his son Neil. It has collected more than 100,000 cans of food and works to end the stigma around mental illness.
Eco Friendly Printer is a business, but the cause closest to Greg Barber's heart is Neil's Wheels, the charity he started in honor of his son, Neil.
Who Neil was
Neil Barber grew up in Manhasset, New York. He was a standout lacrosse player at Manhasset High School and Canterbury Prep School, and a friend to many. In his junior year of high school, Neil began to show signs of schizophrenia. He lived with the illness for more than 25 years.
Neil passed away at age 45 from complications of pneumonia. He is remembered by his family, his teammates and the many people he helped.
At his 10th high school reunion, Greg shared two messages from Neil with his classmates: "Don't feel sorry for me, I'm OK," and "If you haven't achieved your goals in life yet, don't worry, you still have time."
How Neil's Wheels started
Greg founded Neil's Wheels in 2009 with Bob Rule, a Hall of Fame lacrosse player and longtime Manhasset coach. The charity has two goals:
- Reduce the stigma around mental illness, so families can talk about it openly and get help sooner.
- Collect food for families in need on Long Island.
Over the years, Neil's Wheels has collected more than 100,000 cans and boxes of food for hungry families. Drives took place in Manhasset, Port Washington, Huntington and Northport. Greg also worked with Long Island Cares and the Gerald Ryan Outreach Center, and helped MagLiteracy get children's magazines to families served by local food programs.
Talking about mental illness
Neil's Wheels worked with schools across Long Island, where students ran food drives and talked openly about mental illness. The charity also produced a short film with students from Manhasset Middle School for use in health classes, to help young people understand mental illness and see that it is nothing to be ashamed of.
Greg also speaks with families who are caring for someone with a mental illness. His advice is simple. Don't blame one another, because the illness is no one's fault. Be kind to yourselves, take care of your own health, and find something positive to do. As Greg puts it, "If you get sick, you can't help others."
Where the printing comes in
Eco Friendly Printer is a proud sponsor of Neil's Wheels. Greg's work sometimes connects with the cause directly. He printed Seasons to Bloom, a book by Nicolette Amato about her own mental health journey, on 100% post-consumer recycled paper at her mother's request.
How you can help
- Visit our Neil's Wheels page to learn more about the charity and Neil's story.
- Follow Neil's Wheels on Facebook.
- Make a donation in Neil's honor to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, which funds research on mental illness.
- Donate to a local food bank such as Long Island Cares.
If you or someone you love is struggling, you are not alone. The NAMI HelpLine is available at 1-800-950-6264. If someone is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Products mentioned in this piece
Everything below prints on recycled, FSC-certified stock with soy-based inks. Ask for a quote on any of it.
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