Submitted
Several Nex-Tech employees briefly left their jobs across Northwest Kansas on May 30 for an important mission. They presented a check for $1,212 to the Center for Life Experience, 103C E. 27th St. in Hays.
The center is one of the few non-profit organizations in Kansas that offers grief support services for both adults and children.
May was Mental Health Awareness Month, and Nex-Tech wanted to “reaffirm its commitment to employee well-being through community support,” said Breanna Blackhart, who works in the firm’s Human Resources Department in Hoxie.
For three weeks in May, Nex-Tech employees could participate in payroll deduction for a designated community agency, Blackhart said. The employees raised $606. The company matched the employees’ contributions.
In addition, employees purchased 68 custom “Mental Health Matters” T-shirts designed by Nex-Tech’s Marketing Department, Blackhart said.
A Nex-Tech employee suggested the Center for Life Experience as the charity to receive the donation as one of seven charities initially considered, Blackhart said. The center has been in operation for 24 years.
The center provides three grief support groups for adults each month, said Laura Allen, executive director. Healing Hearts is for adults who have lost a child of any age, including miscarriages and stillbirths. It meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month.
Healing After Loss is for those who have suffered an adult loss, such as a spouse, parent, sibling, or friend. It meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month.
Healing After Loss of Suicide is for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. It meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of each month. All the groups meet at the center’s office in Hays.
The center also provides a day-long retreat each spring for children ages 6 through 12 who have experienced the death of someone close to them. Trained “buddies” lead the children through special activities designed to help the children discover healthy ways to grieve, Allen said.
"The Center for Life Experience offers a safe space for people to process grief at their own pace, with others who are on a similar journey,” Allen said. “Grief is hard because death is hard. CFLE appreciates Nex-Tech's generous donation. Our mission is a bit easier when we have the support of our community. Thank you, Nex-Tech."
In addition to Blackhart, the Nex-Tech employees making the check presentation were CEO Jimmy Todd of the Lenora office; Josh Otter, communications tech in Phillipsburg; Austin Gabel, software engineer lead in Hays; Jacque Inglsbee from the Human Resources Department in Stockton; and Kodi Garrison, administrative assistant in Hays.
Blackhart said the company recognizes the importance of mental health awareness. “Nex-Tech has prioritized comprehensive support for its employees,” she said. “The company provides free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) assistance, offering access to a suite of mental health tools.
“Blue Cross Blue Shield provides Nex-Tech employees resources to guide them through the process of identifying the right mental health care. Additionally, all employees benefit from telehealth services, including online counseling, and access to the Brown & Brown relief center, ensuring convenient and confidential access to professional support, free of charge,” Blackhart said.
She added that the firm hopes that by publicizing its commitment to the mental health of its employees, Nex-Tech will encourage other businesses to make that support a priority as well.
“Nex-Tech remains steadfast in its mission to cultivate a supportive culture for its employees while actively engaging with and giving back to the community,” Blackhart said. “Through initiatives like these, the company aims to promote dialogue, raise awareness, and effect positive change in the realm of mental health.”
More information about the Center for Life Experience is available by calling (785) 259-6859.