An organization that helps people with brain injuries has received a grant to help buy a "forever home." Royal Neighbors of America gave $10,000 to Empower House, which wants to open a "brain injury clubhouse."
Founder Missey Heinrichs says when someone has a stroke, a brain tumor, or an accident that leads to brain injury, it is sometimes hard for them to resume their normal life.
"Maybe they weren't able to go back to work yet or back to school, and there just really wasn't much for them to keep engaged in our community. So, for instance they would often ask us, 'what's next? What do I do when I'm done with therapy?'"
So, Empower House aims to give them a purpose. Heinrichs says it meets for two hours a week at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, but she hopes to find a more permanent location.
Once she finds a building for Empower House,it will likely run a program every weekday from 8 to 4, in which the participants will learn how to run a commercial style kitchen.
"While the folks are there, they'll be participating in different work units including a business unit, a kitchen unit, and a maintenance unit. And they will plan and prepare and serve a meal in a commercial style kitchen. So, when they get there, they actually have a purpose."
Two other organizations received grants from Royal Neighbors: one that provides art therapy for cancer patients, and another that helps children in the foster care system.