Thrive West Central to fight loneliness

Thrive West Central, in partnership with First Baptist Church Brazil, has launched an initiative to ensure no one feels alone.

Thrive Together aims to create welcoming spaces, offering practical resources and fostering meaningful connections.

Developed by Community Development Director Kristi Whitacre, who also authored the grant, Thrive Together is a creative, community-centered program funded through a Lilly Endowment grant administered by Congregations with Community. The pilot year will focus on removing barriers to participation and measuring the program’s impact across Thrive West Central’s seven-county region.

Activities for October have been scheduled. Events are free, but you must be a registered volunteer or participant to attend. Once registered, full event details will be provided.

From 5 to 6 p.m. Oct. 22, a fall hike will take place in Vigo County. This will be an easy-level exercise. Dress accordingly for weather.

Mental Health First Aid Training will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in Clay County. Lunch will be provided. This class will not teach how to diagnosis any illness, but instead to recognize when someone is in crisis and how to provide aid.

Immediately following the training, a roundtable discussion will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. at the same location. There will be an introduction to the program and opportunity to sign up. There will also be a discussion led by a licensed mental health provider about loneliness and tools you can use. A meal will be provided.

“We believe Thrive Together has the potential to become a long-term, sustainable initiative that strengthens the social fabric of our region,” said Whitacre. “This program is about more than events — it’s about creating a culture of connection.”

Program highlights include:

Social Events & Activities: From art classes and museum tours to nature walks and exercise sessions, Thrive Together offers a calendar of low-pressure, engaging opportunities for participants to meet others and form lasting friendships.

Wellness Webinars: Led by licensed mental health professionals from the Hamilton Center, these sessions provide tools for managing stress, building resilience, and supporting emotional well-being.

Coffee Buddies: Participants are paired with friendly “buddies” for casual meetups at local coffee shops — because sometimes a single conversation can make all the difference.

Mental Health First Aid Training: Provided by Aging Division leader Holly Hall, this training empowers individuals to recognize signs of emotional distress and respond with compassion and confidence.

To learn more, view upcoming events or register, visit helpthrivetogether.com, email kwhitacre@thrivewestcentral.com or call 812-238-1561 ext. 224.