Scream for Help (Photo submitted)

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By: Casey Roberts 

casey.roberts@bluegrassnewsmedia.com

What started as one man’s personal tragedy has grown into a mission of hope, healing and community support with the opening of Scream for Help, a new gaming storefront and outreach hub in downtown Nicholasville.

The brainchild of local nonprofit leader Chris West, Scream for Help officially opened this month with a clear vision: to provide a safe space for children and families affected by addiction, grief, and trauma — all while honoring the memory of West’s late brother, Jeremy Powell.

“This place is always going to be somewhere that somebody can go and get the resources and help that they need,” West said. “Especially when it comes to addiction or helping a family get any kind of support.”

West lost Powell on Halloween night in 2022, just hours after the two had taken West’s nieces and nephews costume shopping at Spirit Halloween. Powell had been in recovery and was looking forward to trick-or-treating. His sudden passing shook the family to its core — and ultimately inspired West to turn heartbreak into action.

“We loved Halloween. It was our thing. He took that from us in a way,” West said, holding back emotion. “But we wanted to take it back. And the best way to do that was to show his last acts of kindness to the world.”

Located on Main Street, Scream for Help is a nonprofit center with gaming tables, card tournaments, tabletop games, and seasonal events — but it’s more than just fun and fantasy. It’s designed to steer youth away from the cycles of trauma and addiction, while connecting families with food pantries, counseling referrals, bill assistance, and more.

“Kids tend to follow the paths of their parents, statistically speaking,” West said. “When they’re used to everything around them failing, we want to be the place that doesn’t.”

West runs the operation with his longtime friend and partner, Josh Young, who has been sober for 15 years. Together, the duo commits over 50 hours a week to the shop, offering services, mentorship, and outreach — all without taking a paycheck.

“We’ve dedicated our lives to this,” West said. “Social work shouldn’t look like a gray government building. It should be kid-friendly. Families shouldn’t feel like they’re being judged or afraid we’ll take their kids away. We’re here to help keep them together.”

The response so far has been overwhelmingly supportive, but sustaining the space will require community buy-in. West emphasized the need for volunteers, costume donations, and ongoing financial backing.

“We’re not asking people to just say it’s a good thing — we need help keeping the lights on,” he said. “We need donors, we need backers, and we need people who care enough to show up.”

The store will also host its annual Halloween costume drive and participate in ScareFest later this year, partnering with Cosplay for a Cause to provide costumes to kids in need. Every effort, West says, is one more way to reclaim joy and rewrite the narrative around addiction and recovery.

“It’s about showing the humanity behind it all,” he said. “Yes, people struggling with addiction have demons. But they don’t need to be thrown in a cage. They need people to fight alongside them.”

Anyone interested in supporting Scream for Help can stop by the store, donate costumes, volunteer for upcoming events, or call Chris West directly. The team hopes to grow its network of local partnerships and become a model of grassroots healing — one family at a time.

“We can’t do this alone,” West said. “It takes a village. And we need our village now more than ever.”

Visit Scream for Help on Main Street in Nicholasville or contact Chris West directly by phone. Volunteers, costume donations, and financial contributions are all welcome. Follow them on social media for updates on upcoming events and partnerships.