After hearing they had secured a place to operate, a local mental health organization has secured a start date to begin drop-in hours.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness, Northern Lakes has been offered space downstairs at Trinity Lutheran Church on Stevens Street in Rhinelander.
Board President Mick Fiocchi says they've been working for three years to get the drop in center going, serving Forest, Oneida and Vilas counties...
"....we just signed an agreement with Trinity Lutheran Church here in town. They are providing us with marvelous space in their downstairs of the church. We are really thrilled. We are very grateful that Pastor Tim(Vadis) and the church council...we now have an opening date. We're hoping to have the center operating by July 31....."
Fiocchi says the drop-in center provides a relaxed place for people to meet. They are hiring a coordinator, but much of the activity is run by the people who are involved...
"....the center is peer run, meaning it's run by the people who come in the door. The coordinator is there to make sure everything is orderly and things are handled properly. But the people who get involved ultimately are the ones who decide what happens there..."
Fiocchi says the center is modeled after a facility in Stevens Point.
More information is at the website NAMI Northern Lakesor emailing naminorthernlakes @ yahoo. com
