A steady stream of visitors toured the Wabash Valley Friendship Clubhouse during its open house Thursday afternoon. Clubhouse members served as tour guides, offering firsthand insight into the facility’s day-to-day operations and strong sense of community.
The event celebrated two major milestones for the program: a recent three-year accreditation from Clubhouse International and the Clubhouse’s upcoming fifth anniversary.
Founded in November 2020, the Wabash Valley Friendship Clubhouse provides a supportive, work-oriented environment for adults living with chronic mental illness. Clubhouse Coordinator Dave Engstrom says the program’s core mission is to break isolation and offer members a place where they can reconnect with others.
“Just coming here breaks that isolation,” Engstrom said. “They may come here and do nothing—that’s okay. That may be all they can do that day, just get up out of bed and come here. And that’s okay.”
The Clubhouse has grown from serving 11 daily participants in a 700-square-foot house to nearly 30 members a day in a 4,800-square-foot custom-designed facility. On some days, attendance climbs into the mid-30s. Members help run daily operations and support each other in a flexible, come-and-go environment. The nonprofit also features a kitchen, snack shop, laundry room, conference room, and a public thrift store that helps fund the program.
The Clubhouse is a program of the Family Health Center, and part of the behavioral health services they provide to the region. Public Relations Manager Cher Wehrman says fundraising plays a key role in supporting the program as it is not fully funded through, any insurance programing or through any particular funding source through the health center.
They annual Dancing with the Vincennes Stars event held each year is a key source of revenue. This year’s event is August 23rd at Highland Woods Community Center.
“This year we’ll have six competitors—four solo dancers and two couples,” Wehrman said. “They put in so much dedication learning their routines, and each year the competition just grows. The energy, camaraderie, and support from the community for mental health and the Clubhouse is phenomenal.”
Clubhouse members are thankful for the facility. Cindy Arthur credits the Clubhouse with helping her emerge from the deep isolation she experienced during COVID.
“It’s a wonderful place. And I wish more people could experience us,” Arthur said. “What we stand for made us realize that we are the same as everybody else. We just need to stop the stigma.”
Good Samaritan CEO Rob McLin, who also serves on the Clubhouse board, echoed that message, praising the model for creating authentic community without labels.
“You come in here with no preconceived notions,” McLin said. “You’re not getting therapy—you’re coming in as a member of a club that allows you to be friends with people you might not otherwise meet. We’re really blessed to have something like this in the community.”
More information about the Wabash Valley Friendship Clubhouse is available at yourfhc.org/clubhouse and at their thrift shop and Friends of the Wabash Valley Friendship Club Facebook pages.
