Great Bend is home to Dropping 22 Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving veterans, first responders, active military members and their families. At last Thursday’s Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee, founder Davis Jimenez and president Melissa Ewing described the organization and some of the services offered. The office is located at 916 Williams St.
The name “Dropping 22” comes from the often-quoted statistic that 22 veterans commit suicide every day. While that statistic varies, the organization aims to drop that number.
Jimenez, who also serves in the U.S. Army Reserves, became involved with starting the organization after being deployed overseas in 2019.
“One of the soldiers I worked with overseas daily committed suicide. I remember her station was next to mine, and we worked together daily. This was not the first time I knew of a soldier committing suicide, but this one was the one that made me want to do something,” he states on the Dropping 22 website.
That prompted him to start the organization in 2022 after he returned to Great Bend.
When asked how the public can help the Dropping 22 organization, Jimenez said it is important to show support for veterans.
“Just acknowledge the veterans when you see one,” he said. “Just a head nod or something; it’s that easy. Last year I lost another friend to suicide and I believe just simple things like that can help and will go a long way. I thank veterans when I see them.”
The group relies on monetary donations, fundraisers and grant money. Jimenez said people can help physically in many ways, such as by sponsoring one of Dropping 22’s monthly meals.
Ewing added that they can always use items for the office such as paper towels or disinfecting wipes. Art supplies and canvases could also be used. “We do a quarterly Paint Night for the spouses of first responders and veterans,” she explained.
Ewing, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical addiction counselor in Great Bend who has a private practice as well as serving Dropping 22.
She talked about some of the services Dropping 22 offers:
• The weekly post-traumatic stress group is a safe place to share as little or as much as the participant wants.
• There is a free monthly meal. Times are announced on Facebook and Instagram. “A lot of people attend,” she said, noting meals are a great opportunity for community engagement.
• The monthly Military and First Responders Night Out is held on the fourth Friday of each month, from 6-8 p.m. (The next one will be April 28.) This is a free evening of child care for children 6-12 years old, for all military and first responders. Snacks and games/activities are provided. Preregistration is required but all that involves is sending an email to Dropping22ks@gmail.com.
• Dropping 22 offers a 12-month faith-based trauma reboot course throughout the year. There is one for first responders, one for veterans and one that is open to anyone who has experienced trauma in their past and wants to work through it.
• One of Dropping 22’s upcoming events is on safe firearm storage. It will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on April 20.
“Everything that we offer here is completely free of charge,” Ewing said. “We want to make it affordable, we want to make is accessible, and we want to help de-stigmatize reaching out for mental health. We do offer individual therapy, couple’s therapy, family therapy, with limited spots available, free of charge.
“We need our first responders, we need our veterans and our active duty to be as healthy as possible because they are who we count on during our times of emergency,” she continued. “When they are healthy, it benefits the community as a whole.”
For more information, send email to Dropping22ks@gmail.com or call 620-786-0687. Donations can be made on the Dropping 22 website, dropping22.org.
