Bridgehead, a new non-profit organization with the intent to provide Northeast Nebraska veterans with a safe place to gain a foothold, is set to come to the area sometime very soon.
The new nonprofit was incorporated in hopes to fill in the gap for veterans transitioning to and from rehabilitation, or just needing a place to restore.
The nonprofit gets the name “Bridgehead” from a military term used to describe a safety zone for troops to gain a foothold and rally in preparation to move forward. It’s defined as; “A secure position from which further progress can be made.”
The non-profit will implement a holistic approach to restoration, focusing on the interconnection of nutritional, spiritual, physical, and mental wellbeing to achieve successful healing & restoration. Assistance with housing, recovery, accountability, mentorship, and peer to peer networking will be provided. Also, workforce development through paid apprenticeships and entrepreneurships will be encouraged.
The Local Veterans Service Office has observed a recurring need. Veterans seeking help are often faced with a waiting period before admission to a treatment facility. Following treatment, there is also a vulnerable time when transitioning back into the world they became unaccustomed to. They are often struggling with depression, alcoholism and/or drug addiction. They need comradery, purpose & mentoring during this time. This is where Bridgehead would be an option.
The mission of Bridgehead is simple, to empower veterans as they navigate the process of integrative healing. The team looks to help veterans discover their purpose and value after serving. Bridgehead stands on its values of duty, loyalty, integrity, honor, self-respect, courage, and commitment.
While the location of Bridgehead is yet to be determined, the founders have prototyped by having veterans stay in their homes during these phases and see the benefits of including them as a family member. This has been rewarding for both parties as the team has learned much from the experience. Determining location at this time may be as small as a home/house location vs. a plot of ground to build. This will hinge greatly on funding.
The board of Bridgehead is made up of local members of the community. Ann Dvorak is the president, with Kimberly Stenka as Secretary and Barb Ohde as Treasurer. Also putting forth hard work on the board are Ken Stenka, Ernie Hahne, and Mick McIntire.
The long term vision for Bridgehead is to be able to hire staff in the departments of nutritional, mental, medical & spiritual health However, this will rely on funding available.
Bridgehead is a registered 501c(3) and is currently accepting donations, which can be given to a board member directly or be submitted through their website.
More information about Bridgehead can be found on their website, www.bridgehead.org.
Article courtesy of Atkinson Graphic, Blake Hilkemeier
