In the spring of 2021, Shelby Crews found herself at a crossroads. Like many recent graduates, she was trying to navigate the uncertainty of life after college, compounded by the isolation and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mentally, she was struggling, but thanks to her parents’ insurance, she was able to access counseling services to begin her healing process. Not everyone was as fortunate.
“I had a friend that was struggling very similarly to me,” she recalls. “We were walking almost identical paths, but while I had access to counseling, she didn’t. Her parents had let her go, and she couldn’t afford to pay for therapy on her own. That didn’t sit right with me.
It was this moment of realization—this uncomfortable contrast between the support she received and the lack of access her friend had—that sparked the idea for Tread and Trample, a nonprofit she would launch just a month after earning her undergraduate degree in psychology.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I would lose sleep thinking about, okay, how am I going to make this happen? How can I help people?” she recalls.
Driven by this motivation, Tread and Trample’s mission took shape: raising money for counseling scholarships for individuals who couldn’t afford mental health care, primarily through community walks and events that also foster open conversations about mental health.
With no prior business experience, Crews threw herself into the process of making Tread and Trample a reality. Her passion far outweighed her knowledge at the time, but she was undeterred.
“I’ve always said that my heart runs a lot quicker than my brain,” she jokes. “I had no idea how to start a nonprofit. But I knew people were hurting, and I couldn’t just sit by and do nothing.”
She tapped into local resources near her hometown of Hilliard, Fla., and worked with a free business consulting program to secure Tread and Trample’s official 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in February 2022. This legal milestone marked the beginning of what she describes as “a whirlwind of learning” about the intricacies of running an organization. It also solidified her commitment to addressing the financial barriers that prevent so many people from accessing the mental health care they need.
She decided on the name Tread and Trample, drawn from a Bible verse about overcoming obstacles, because it figuratively and literally reflects her the connection between physical activity and mental health that was vital in her own healing. The name embodies the nonprofit’s mission of not only walking through difficult mental health journeys but also conquering them.
“Walking was one of the first steps in my healing journey,” Crews explains. “I wasn’t at my normal functioning level, but walking allowed me to start moving again, both physically and mentally. I began to feel some sense of control over my body and mind.”
Incorporating the significance of walking into both the organization’s mission and name, Tread and Trample made walks a central part of its fundraising model, where participants raise money through donations and pledges based on walking distances to support counseling scholarships. Each Tread and Trample Walk is named after someone who has navigated their own mental health struggles and is comfortable sharing that with the public. These walks serve as both a fundraiser and a celebration of resilience.
“I needed to hear stories of recovery when I was struggling, but they were hard to find,” Crews says. “Our walks give people a platform to share those stories while raising money to help others.
“I feel like there’s not a lot of celebration, or at least visible celebration, when people overcome things like mental health challenges,” she continues. “People with other afflictions or illnesses can have a lot of support along the way and a celebration on the other end, so this was a way of reminding people that you’re not walking alone, and there will people that are going to celebrate what you’ve done because it’s tough.”
Since its inception, Tread and Trample has helped a number of individuals receive counseling services providing assistance on nearly 50 invoices. She admits the first challenge was getting people to apply for the financial assistance scholarships (“We had more money than applicants,” she laughs), but there is now a steady stream of inquiries.
Scholarships are awarded to individuals who either apply directly through Tread and Trample’s website or are referred by partnering counseling agencies. Initially, the nonprofit covered ongoing invoices indefinitely, but she and her team soon realized they needed a more sustainable model. Now, they offer scholarships in set amounts, like the $500 grants recently awarded, which recipients can use as needed to cover counseling costs.
The organization has also fostered partnerships with local mental health agencies, allowing them to streamline the process of matching people in need with counselors.
“Our goal is to make sure no one has to stop going to therapy because of financial reasons,” Crews says. “We work closely with agencies to make sure that people who hit financial barriers can keep getting the help they need.”
After spending a year building Tread and Trample, Crews made another life-changing decision: to pursue a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at West Virginia University. Her time at WVU has further reinforced her commitment to advocating for accessible mental health care.
“Being at WVU has really opened my eyes to how trauma and poverty are intertwined. Poverty can cause trauma, and trauma can perpetuate poverty,” she reflects. “It’s made me even more passionate about making mental health care accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.”
Crews’ studies have also deepened her understanding of the clinical side of counseling, giving her the tools she needs to make an even greater impact through Tread and Trample.
“The counseling program here emphasizes advocacy, which aligns perfectly with what I’ve been doing. I’ve learned so much about trauma-informed care and how to integrate mental health and physical health.”
Her experience at WVU has been more than just academic. Moving from Florida to West Virginia was a significant transition, but one that has allowed her to grow in ways she never anticipated.
“It was tough at first, being so far from my family and everything I knew, but it’s been such a rewarding experience,” she reflects. “I’ve gained independence and clarity about what I want to do with my life.”
Looking forward, Crews plans to blend her career as a licensed counselor with her work at Tread and Trample. Ideally, she envisions a future where the nonprofit can offer in-house counseling services, reducing the need for external partnerships.
“I’d love to have a team of counselors working directly with Tread and Trample,” Crews says. “That way, we could provide mental health care directly and manage the costs in-house.”
For now, though, she’s content to let the organization grow at its own pace. “We’re expanding slowly, and that’s okay. Our mission is to meet people where they are, to create a space where they feel supported, and to make sure no one has to walk through their mental health journey alone.”
The nonprofit continues to host walks and events, and Crews is learning more about grant writing to secure additional funding for counseling scholarships. Her long-term vision includes expanding the nonprofit’s reach beyond her hometown in Florida.
“In a perfect world, it would be great for Tread and Trample to offer counseling scholarships not just in my hometown but in places like Morgantown as well,” she says. “We’re constantly looking for new ways to help more people, and I believe that with time, we’ll get there.”
With her heart firmly rooted in advocacy and her education at WVU guiding her forward, Shelby Crews is truly walking the talk when it comes to making mental health care accessible for all.