LCF Open Door Grants: Supporting Wellness in Our Community

As the data reflected in the most recent Lincoln Vital Signs demonstrates, the need for mental health services is on the rise in our community.   
  
“With everything that’s going on in our world, especially the last few years, people are reporting an increase of experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, and feelings of overload and burnout,” said Kjerstin Egger, Wellness and Education director for the Wellbeing Initiative.  
  
“We see how this crisis directly impacts our community, and it just so happens that we have services that can be a great support to people,” she said. 
 
The Wellbeing Initiative, a nonprofit organization developed, driven, and run by peers, is empowering individuals living with mental health and substance use challenges to reach their fullest potential.  
 
“It is a place that is truly dedicated to making this world, our community, a better place to be,” said Kjerstin. “Every person that works here is committed to their own personal wellness and recovery and is sharing the possibility of recovery with others. We believe recovery and a sense of wellbeing is possible for everyone.” 
 
The newest expansion of the Wellbeing Initiative is the Wellness and Education Center, created in 2021. The Center enables folks to come together and learn, grow, move, and connect in an environment that is warm, welcoming, safe, and inclusive.  

In support of this important work, LCF recently awarded the Wellbeing Initiative an Open Door grant for increased operational expenses resulting from its rapid expansion. The grant will enable Wellbeing Initiative to continue to provide high quality services through each of its low-barrier programs with adequate human resource management, continuous quality improvement, and programmatic oversight. 
 
“Recovery looks different for everyone, and includes people who experience challenges with substance use, mental or physical health, or people who are supporters of anyone experiencing those challenges,” said Kjerstin.  
 
The center is free to the community and seeks to support individuals who are looking to explore whole health education and provide a space for community engagement in the face of recent isolation. 
 
“Our community is calling on us at an increased time of need,” said Kjerstin. “We recognize that people are multidimensional, and wellbeing is multidimensional. We seek to offer space, education, and a community that supports all dimensions of a person’s wellness.”