Give Hope Auction
The 2012 Give Hope Auction has ended. Big thanks to our 65 individuals and business who donated items this year. We were successful in raising over $5000 for our clients!

A special thank you to Hills Bank & Trust and AW Welt Ambrisco Insurance for their generous sponsorship of the auction. Look for the 2013 Give Hope Auction in February of next year.

About MECCA >>  News / Events Archive
 

MECCA in the News:

12-20-2010, Press-Citizen.com - MECCA helps individuals reach their potential

Click Here: 12-20-2010 Link to Article at Press.Citizen.Com    or    12-20-2010 Press-Citizen.com (.pdf Copy)

Press Release, December 2010

Bernie Lorenz Recovery Receives Grant Award from Give Back Des Moines Campaign

[Des Moines], IA - Bernie Lorenz Recovery, a program of MECCA, has received a $3,289 grant from Give Back Des Moines through its 2010 community campaign.

The Give Back Des Moines funds will help to purchase new furniture for the 17 bed half-way house, which supports women in recovery from substance abuse.

"We are extremely pleased to have received this funding from Give Back Des Moines," said Shannon Wagner, Vice President. "These funds will allow us to purchase much needed new furniture, to help create a warm and welcoming home for the women we serve."

Give Back Des Moines was a community campaign whose mission was to raise awareness and increase support of charitable not-for-profit organizations in the Greater Des Moines area. The campaign was organized and executed by the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute (GDMLI) Class of 2009-2010. Give Back Des Moines raised over $90,000 and collected more than 30,000 basic needs items.

Give Back Des Moines was supported by: Founding Partner - The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines; Event Day Sponsor - The Iowa Cubs; Gold Level Sponsor - Principal Financial Group; Silver Level Sponsor - Delta Dental, Casey's, American Equity Life Insurance Company, Pioneer; Media Sponsors - Mediacom, The Des Moines Radio Group and Catchfire Media.

For more information about Bernie Lorenz Recovery, or to learn how you can volunteer,  please contact Program Manager Robin Cikanek, at rcikanek@meccaia.com or 515-255-3373, or visit www.bernielorenzrecovery.org

Press Release, July 27, 2010
MECCA Appoints CEO

The Board of Directors of MECCA is extremely pleased to appoint Ron Berg as the Chief Executive Officer.

Ron has been with MECCA since 1982, serving as Vice President of Clinical Services, and most recently as Acting CEO for the organization. MECCA Board Chair, Bill Nusser, said that Berg's combination of clinical experience and leadership skills, as well as his industry involvement on a local, state and national level , made him undoubtedly the most desirable candidate for this position. "The board particularly appreciates Ron's interest in solidifying the quality of existing programs offered at MECCA, as well as his eye to the future of this 41 year-old organization."

MECCA provides a range of behavioral health services including substance abuse, mental health, problem gambling, and HIV/AIDS. For more information on the organization, please visit www.meccaservices.com.

Click Here to read more about Ron Berg

23rd Annual New Pioneer/ ICARE Pancake Breakfast
ICARE will host its 23rd Annual New Pioneer/ ICARE Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, June 6, 2010 in the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp (SE Corner of Washington & Gilbert Street in Iowa City). We'll be there rain or shine!!

A gourmet breakfast of pancakes, sausage, fruit, fresh squeezed orange juice and Starbucks coffee will be served from 8 a.m. -1 p.m. during the Iowa Arts Festival. Check back soon for ticket information. All proceeds will support ICARE's mission to enrich the quality of life for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Come enjoy the sweet sound of local entertainment and the best breakfast in town!

We are in need of 80-90 volunteers to help set up, squeeze orange juice, serve food and beverages and tear down. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ericka Pullen at epullen@meccaia.com or call 319-351-4357.

To learn more about ICARE, please visit www.icareiowa.org
Don't miss this fun and exciting event...a great opportunity to support a worthy cause!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's ICARE Pancake Breakfast on Sunday June 6, 2010

Read More Here:  23rd Annual New Pioneer/ ICARE Pancake Breakfast

Bernie Lorenz Recovery - Press Release, June 2010

Grubb Family Beautifies Local Charity

Read More Here:  Press Release, June 2010 "Grubb Family Beautifies Local Charity"

Bernie Lorenz Recovery Receives $10,000 Community Betterment Grant
from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino

February 2010
Bernie Lorenz Recovery (BLR), a program of MECCA Services recently received a $10,000 grant from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino through its 2009 Community Betterment Grant Program.

Grant funds will help support the BLR program, our Des Moines area half-way house which serves women who are in substance abuse recovery. The program helps women achieve their goals around education, employment, physical health, and strengthening family relationships, while providing support for their sobriety.

The Prairie Meadows Grants Advisory Committee, comprised of community, business and education leaders from the greater Des Moines area, review all grant requests and make a recommendation to the Prairie Meadows Board of Directors for review and approval. Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grants are given to projects in one of four categories: Arts & Culture, Economic Development, Education, and Human Services. 

 "We are extremely pleased to receive this funding from Prairie Meadows," said Steve Estes, MECCA's President & CEO. "These funds help ensure our ability to continue these important services." 

Bernie Lorenz Recovery is the only program of its kind serving women in Central Iowa who are in recovery. It operates as an integral but independent program of MECCA providing residential treatment and case management services within a half-way house setting. Over the past 19 years, BLR has served more than 1,400 women in the Des Moines area. Learn more at www.bernielorenzrecovery.org.

MECCA Celebrates 40th Anniversary!
MECCA celebrated 40 years of Service with a Community Open House in Iowa City and Des Moines this past September. In Iowa City, we held two mini-tours and a formal program with Marilyn Wright (Quality Manager), Dick Myers (Former Board Member), and Steve Estes (President & CEO) speaking. In Des Moines, guests were able to view several stations with MECCA information and history.

To view a gallery of our open house photos, click on 40th Anniversary.

The following links contain media coverage in several eastern Iowa publications:

• MECCA Marks 4 Decades of Fighting Substance Abuse (Cedar Rapids Gazette - September 17, 2009)
   
• MECCA Looks Back at 40 Years of Service, Growth (Daily Iowan - September 18, 2009)
   
• 40 Years See Many Changes at MECCA (Press Citizen - October 8, 2009)

Give Hope Event 2009 A Success
 

Local Rotarians upgrade MECCA playground

With the help of several community organizations and four local Rotary groups, this Spring the playground at MECCA was transformed into a vibrant, fun and safe recreational area for our transitional housing families.

MECCA's transitional housing facility provides safe and supportive housing for clients and their families as they address the issues of substance abuse in their lives. Families are eligible to stay for up to two years. Children are among the most important beneficiaries of transitional housing, and MECCA strives to provide a kid-friendly atmosphere. Outside the apartments, MECCA had provided an enclosed play area that included a play set and a sandbox. With a grant from the Community Foundation of Johnson County and a special project undertaken by a group of senior nursing students at the University of Iowa, a basketball court and adjustable hoop were added to the play area last year. But there was room for even more improvement.

The Iowa City/ Coralville Rotary Clubs stepped up to the task. Donating $8,000 worth of materials and equipment, as well as a lot of hard labor, the Rotarians turned a small playground into a park-like recreation area for families to enjoy. Rotary volunteers braved the rain for two weekends in April to lay down rubber mulch and install a park-style grill, a picnic table with an umbrella, and a net behind the basketball hoop to catch errant basketballs. Finally, the volunteers planted shrubs and landscaped the area surrounding the playground. Quality Care, City Carton Recycling and Emerald Green Lawn Care also contributed equipment, supplies and expertise ensuring the project's success.

One of the focal points this year of District 6000 (southern Iowa) of Rotary International is the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Karin Franklin, president-elect of the IC Noon Club, says with MECCA right here in the community, a partnership seemed natural.

"The playground renovation was the perfect project. It gave us an opportunity to get our hands dirty and allowed us to do something that will benefit others - helping families get back on their feet. We are delighted that we could be a part of it."

MECCA and the Iowa City/Coralville Rotary Clubs recognize the value of recreation in reducing stress and promoting healthy behaviors for recovering parents and their families. A space for families to play together can make a big difference in their lives. These families are also looking toward the future: they maintain and take care of the area, not only for themselves, but for future transitional housing residents as well. They take pride in this special place, enjoying the sense of community that the joint responsibility affords them.  

"We are grateful to Rotary for their financial support of this project. Their time, energy, and talent have made it all possible. This is a wonderful community statement of support for all those in recovery," says Ron Berg, Vice President of Clinical Operations at MECCA.

MECCA, in conjunction with the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Transitional Housing playground (438 Southgate Ave., Iowa City) on Thursday, June 18 at 4:30 p.m. Approximately 40 community members attended the dedication.

To view a gallery of project photos, click on Playground.
To view a gallery of ribbon cutting ceremony photos, click on Ribbon.

Magellan Health Services Recognizes MECCA Services with Co-Occurring Program Award

Iowa City, IA - MECCA Services was recently presented with the Magellan Co-Occurring Program Award, at the Stars of Excellence Banquette held Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008.

The award recognizes providers that have integrated treatment processes for individuals with both mental health and substance abuse disorders.

“MECCA realizes the importance of a ‘no wrong door’ approach to treatment and serves as an example to other providers as they work toward becoming co-occurring capable,” said Joan Discher, General Manager of Magellan Health Services. “We are proud to honor their services with this award.”

MECCA is a community-based, behavioral health and substance abuse not-for-profit that has provided services in Iowa for over 40 years. Most notably, MECCA has implemented the NIATX change process which promotes an environment of continual learning and improvement focused on four goals (reduce waiting times, reduce no-shows, increase admissions, increase continuation) by using a rapid cycle change model.

Ron Berg, Vice President of Clinical Services at MECCA, attended the banquet to accept the award.

“MECCA really has taken leaps and bounds with the NIATX change process and we are excited to be able to provide a one-stop shop, if you will, for individuals facing a number of behavioral health issues,” Berg commented.

The banquet was sponsored by Magellan Behavioral Care of Iowa, which serves more than 270,000 adults, children and adolescents in Medicaid and Substance Abuse Block Grant programs in Iowa with integrated Mental Health and Substance Abuse (MHSA) services.

MECCA's Flood Damage - May/June 2008

In the wake of the flood, thousands of home and business owners have experienced devastation and hardship. MECCA, too, has been affected by the flooding in Iowa City. Thank you to community members who graciously volunteered to help sandbag in preparation for the flood. Once the water crested, and we were able to assess our damage, we realized we were fortunate that our client facilities were not impacted; however our administrative office on Stevens Drive was flooded. Thanks to generous donations we were able to replace the carpet, tiling and dry wall in our Stevens Drive facility.

To view a gallery of our flood photos, click on Flood Damage.