YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Help Network of Northeast Ohio celebrated its 50th anniversary on Friday with a recognition event held at the Youngstown Community Center.

The organization began as a drug information line staffed by volunteers, operating just four hours a day.

However, the Help Network has grown since then and now provides suicide and crisis prevention services, a 24/7 hotline for those contemplating suicide, the 211 information and referral service and referrals to other community-based programs to get individuals and their families the help they need.

The Help Network is the Valley's Suicide and Crisis hotline and has taken over 2 million phone calls within the last 50 years.