Northern Lakes Community Mental Health (NLCMH) has awarded nine mini-grants, totaling $10,000, to nine local community projects. According to the chief operations officer at NLCMH, Joanie Blamer, they offered the grants "to help transform the public mental health system to one based on recovery principles by strengthening consumer choice and enhancing personal recovery."
We spoke with one recipient, the Traverse House Clubhouse, who plans to use the grant to put in a raised garden bed. The project director, Gary Nelson, stated "I think it's good therapy. It will help people come out, learn how to weed and garden, and take care of the plants. It's good for their health- their mental health. I believe it's outstanding therapy, and I think they'll benefit from it in different areas." He said they plan to grow many vegetables and fresh herbs, and use them in the 300-400 lunches the clubhouse makes each month. They invite the public to try their food at a February 23rd book signing party (for a cookbook written by one of their members) and to talk about how the fresh garden food will get everyone focused on eating better.
The other recipients are as follows:
-Wellness Initiative of Yoga and Nutrition Consultation for Club Cadillac Clubhouse
-Employment/Housing Computer for Club Cadillac Clubhouse
-"Artist Way" for Traverse House Clubhouse
-Transformation of the Mind outreach by Y.O. Ministries of TC
-"To Modify the Bully" bookmark project in schools and libraries
-"Spirit Doll" recovery workshops at NLCMH TC
-Tobacco Addiction Treatment program by Traverse Bay Area Tobacco Coalition
-Dual Recovery Anonymous Group in Cadillac
