It was a celebration Friday night for First Call 211. Not just a celebration of the past, but of what’s yet to come as the local non-profit community organization ushers in a new era.
What began as a phone call in 1974 has evolved into a one-of-a-kind comprehensive service continuing to find new ways to aid its community and state.
First Call 211, a community crisis response and suicide prevention organization in Grand Rapids, carries such a large responsibility for the people they serve, they’ve outgrown their most recent location in NW Grand Rapids, and have moved somewhere much more sizable for what they do.
A collection of active community members, local frontline workers and the First Call 211 family joined together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday to unveil the massive new location for First Call to conduct the incredibly important services they provide.
It was a collaborative effort to get the organization to this point. Through a combination of grant writing and fundraising, First Call 211, along with its full team and call center now occupy the reimagined former Dondelinger Dodge property on NW 4th street, an upgrade of 10,000 square feet from their old facility. The new building required renovations, and continues to transform from a former car dealership into a total-wellness facility. The finished product, set to officially open its doors to the public at the end of the month, offers significantly more space and offers greater capacity to serve the community and assist those perhaps experiencing their darkest days.
If you’re not familiar with First Call 211, you likely know someone who is. For the last 50 years, the organization has evolved from the Nightingale Help Phone Service to First Call 211: A team of medical professionals and front-line workers trained and equipped to help anyone tackle a spectrum problems they may be facing: Homelessness, substance abuse, depression, and suicide prevention, along with a host of other resources they connect you with, no matter who you are, free of judgement.
First Call will move their call center into the new building - ground zero for the tens of thousands of calls the organization receives on a yearly basis.
“88,000 calls are anticipated this year,” said the tour-provider, who implied the estimate is low.
The call center receives calls for the 2-1-1 resource and referral service, and 9-8-8 crisis phone service center, that answers calls from around the entire State of Minnesota. First Call recently celebrated their two-year anniversary of implementing the 9-8-8 service this past August - a symbol of their continued expansion and desire to help as many people as they can.
Additional services provided by First Call include: Crisis phone line services, mobile crisis intervention, New Leaf Healing Center, chemical dependency assessment, psychological testing and assessment referrals, Second Harvest Pantry, MNSURE assistance, Family Collaborative, Community Sharing Fund, “WE ARE ALL CRIMINAL project,” resource connection and referral services, Great Tails Food Pantry, and even a free public notary service.
As the ribbon cutting ceremony also celebrated the 50th-year Anniversary of the Nightingale Help Phone Service, it’s incredible to reflect upon how the organization has evolved over the decades into what it is now.
First Call 211 Director Cre Larson says the positive state of the organization is a credit to those who came before her, saying prior directors built the foundation for her and the team to continue seeking growth.
Larson, the director for the past 10 years, is a driving force for the organization and a front-line leader that goes beyond the call of duty to help as many people as possible. She credits those around her, saying they are where she draws so much of her inspiration, and thanked the members of the board and her team for their years of service, and for continuing to drive-on even when times are difficult.
She’s overseen the expansion of some of the organization’s latest, cutting-edge community efforts.
One of the benefits of relocating to the former dealership is the garage space that will be utilized by GoMarti, Minnesota's Autonomous Rural Transit Initiative, that’ll use the location as a transfer station along with having the space to park their vehicles.
They field the only veteran-only crisis response team (VCRT) in the state. The VCRT is a team of veterans that connect with and assist community-veterans in need - an essential service to a county with one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the state.
Larson and her team also recently implemented their Adolescent Crisis program, another one-of-it’s kind program in the state, in collaboration with the local schools.
Through innovation, collaboration, and community-efforts inspired by helping others, Grand Rapids is now home to one of the most comprehensive wellness facilities in Minnesota and around the nation.
They needed additional space for the service they provide, which reaches all 87 counties in Minnesota.
“We provide no less than two services to each county,” Larson explained during the ceremony.
Here in Grand Rapids, the 988 call center is one of only four in the state. Earlier in the summer, Larson explained the service is always available, 24/7, 365 days a year, to answer the call for someone in need.
“We are promoting 988 in our county, in addition to, our regular crisis line: 218-326-8565, in efforts of making sure there is always a number to call when a person or family member is in mental health distress, feeling alone, feeling depressed, or when you’re not sure what’s going on or when it’s a right time to call. 988 is here to ensure that residents who are in a mental health crisis don’t feel the need to call 911, but will call 988 for quick access to mental health support and resources.”
They are a 1-of-1 at First Call 211. Not only providing treatment to those vulnerable and in-need directly on the ground, but also by phone for thousands of people across the state.
Please do your part to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. If you are a community member or organization willing to join the fight, contact First Call for Help 211 in Grand Rapids for more information on how you can make a difference in your community. If you need immediate emotional or mental health support, or are worried about someone else's well-being, please call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to chat online with a trained counselor.
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