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FRANKLIN

The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters will be “topping off” construction of its new mental health hospital this week. Residents throughout Western Tidewater, as well as the rest of Greater Hampton Roads, are invited to support the project by “topping off” their ice cream cone at participating Dairy Queen stores throughout regions.

On Thursday, sales of all dipped cones at DQ will benefit CHKD as the latter celebrates placing the highest beam in the construction of a 60-bed, 14-story mental health hospital and outpatient center to address mental health concerns of youth.

Construction of the $224 million tower, located on the same campus as CHKD’s main hospital in Norfolk began in September 2019. When it opens in 2022, the tower will provide a full spectrum of mental health services for children, from intensive inpatient care to outpatient therapy that helps children to thrive in their own neighborhoods.

According to information provided by DQ spokesman Matthew Bean, “CHKD has already been expanding its mental health staff in response to the growing needs of the community’s children. The facility will help fill a critical gap in pediatric mental health care across the state.

“Top off your day with a cool dipped cone from DQ on Thursday, and help us bolster mental health services for children.”

Mid-Atlantic Dairy Queen has 14 stores throughout seven cities. Locally, there is one in Franklin, another in Windsor and a third in Courtland, though the latter is temporarily out of commission because of Tropical Storm Isaias and the tornado that followed.

To learn more about the hospital and its plan, visit www.CHKD.org. To learn more about DQ. Visit www.DQHamptonRoads.com.