BROOKINGS – The Brookings Empowerment Project wants to keep growing so it can help those with mental illness, said President Craig Pahl at the group’s annual meeting Monday at Wooden Legs Brewing Co.

He reiterated BEP’s three main areas of mental health advocacy before turning the floor over to the committee chairs for their reports.

BEP is dedicated to educating the public about mental illness, particularly battling the stigma surrounding mental illness; crisis management, including developing resources for those with mental illness and their families; and working to close the housing gap in South Dakota for those with mental illness who are coming out of controlled care facilities and needing to integrate slowly back into society.

BEP is a totally volunteer organization, Pahl said, and it needs more help to keep going. They have at least seven committees and all have space for more members. That includes the BEP board, which has 12 seats, but only 10 members at present.

Committees

Judy Karen is secretary of BEP and chair of the membership committee. There are 53 members of BEP now, and Karen wants to double that in the next year.

Marlys Thompson was presented the volunteer of the year award by Karen.

Mary O’Neill reported the fundraising committee’s accomplishments in 2018, including obtaining $25,000 in grants, raising $1,000 from the rummage sale in May, getting $5,590 in the South Dakota Day of Giving, $12,802 in donations, $240 in dues and $250 from the Allegra Footprint Grant.

Donors of the Year awards went to Sleep in Heavenly Peace for building and donating six beds for the See Do House, and Diane Culver, who donated six quilts to put on those beds, as well as another quilt which was raffled off to raise money. Nancy Beech accepted the award for SHP.

Beech said SHP has had 18 builds with businesses or families doing the bed building. They’ve had 210 beds built since May and raised $35,000.

“We are shocked at the support we have,” she said.

Brookings was the 134th national chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace; there are now 137, including a chapter in Aberdeen. Dave Miller is the SHP Brookings chapter president.

Culver said she lived by a quote from John Wesley, to do all the good you can for as long as you can. She promised she would keep making quilts as long as her foot could operate the sewing machine pedal.

Deb Eilers gave the finance committee report. They had planned for $28,760 in expenses, but had only $18,167, so they have a year-end cash balance of $34,565. For 2019, they plan on only $24,945 in expenses or a 14 percent reduction.

Paulette Heesch gave the report on the education committee. In 2018, they sponsored the Bridges of Hope program and raised awareness in the Brookings church community. BEP sponsored an October forum on “Mental Illness and the Search for Recovery” and a November event called “Talk Saves Lives.” In 2019, they plan to help raise awareness of mental health in rural South Dakota, which includes not only the farms, but the small towns. BEP is also planning a fall forum with resource speakers in October; they are discussing possible ideas of things in the public eye, including the opioid crisis.

Lisa Minor gave the crisis management committee report. In 2018, they formed committees. In 2019, BEP plans to take part in the mental health fair in May at Gracepoint Church, work on crisis roadmap development, and support group advocacy and formation.

Marlys Thompson reported on the Crisis Intervention Team training for law enforcement and first responders, which just finished its pilot training. BEP is also involved in the mental health coalition formation. In 2019, BEP plans to take part in more training events.

Jessica Wulf narrated a video of the See Do transitional house for those with mental illness who are coming out of controlled facilities and need a little help transitioning into society.

The name See Do has meaning.

“See what is possible and go out there and do it in the Brookings community,” Wulf said.

The See Do House is finished and ready to start taking up to six women. BEP is in contact with all the major referral agencies in the region to give the women the help they need to get back into society. The first month’s rent will be free to help them get started.

BEP plans to continue to work with the agencies to make See Do House a reality, Wulf said.

Nancy Richert, a member of the education committee, said people in the community can do a lot to help. Churches are in an especially good position to help combat mental illness, she said. BEP has spoken at churches and civic organizations before and distributed a book about how Christians can cope with depression. Richert said BEP plans to visit every church in 2019 and wants to distribute a book on the link between addiction and mental illness.

For the future

BEP needs more members and donors, Pahl said. The organization has signed a lease for the See Do House, so they need the finances to honor that, especially before they get tenants. 

BEP is looking for a social media manager and a content researcher to raise its profile and public awareness of what the group does.

They need committee members, volunteers for the rummage sale and mental health fair, and volunteers and collaborators for the quarterly education event.

Pahl said they’d like to have weekly blogs from members, professionals and community members.

“The battle is real,” Pahl said, using a quote he got from his daughter. “We as caregivers and interested volunteers are the front lines.”

He closed his presentation with a plea.

“Yeah, we can do this, but please help us out,” Pahl said.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.