Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Chase.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alexis. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Holy Comforter was founded in 1893 and after going through significant changes throughout the years, in 1997, we opened the Friendship Center. The Friendship Center is a day program for people living with severe and chronic mental illness. The trigger for starting the program was a round of reductions in publicly funded day programs for people with mental illness.
The mission of the Friendship Center is to promote mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of adults who are marginalized by poverty and chronic mental illness and disability. It is accomplished through three main program elements: wellness and recovery services, Recovery Through the Arts, and the Seedtime and Harvest supported employment program.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have always been challenges. People living with mental illness can often cycle through stages of sustainability and healthy living and then they can decompensate and their illnesses can flare. This is hard on both the person and all of us who care for that person. They can become symptomatic, which can trigger depression, delusions, mania, and other effects. Funding has also always been an issue. There just isn’t the funding for mental health programs and we are always doing amazing things on a shoestring.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Friendship Center of Atlanta at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church – what should we know?
We are very proud that we are the only faith community that has a program like our in the country. There is no one else like us and that does what we do. We are unique in serving people living with mental health issues and incorporating all people into the life of this faith community. We are proud of the breadth and depth of the services that we offer, everything from hot, homemade, and delicious meals, twice-weekly yoga, painting, drawing, weaving, potter, bingo, gardening, Bible Study, meditation, support groups, and so much more.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I did not invent this program, I am merely the steward of this place. All of the people that came before me deserve the credit for creating, supporting, and maintaining this program. We also have almost 100 volunteers a week that support this program, they do everything from make meals, drive vans, teach classes, lead groups, and take pictures. Our staff and volunteers are a dedicated group of people that love this place.
Contact Info:
- Address: 737 Woodland Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30316 - Website: www.friendshipcenter-atlanta.org
- Phone: 404-627-6510
- Email: admin@holycomforter-atlanta.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holycomfortereca/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HolyComforterEC
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