In his more than three years in Southwest Florida, James Wineinger has been a quick study of the social, philanthropic and cultural milieu. In many respects, he’s had to as the executive director of Hope Clubhouse, but he’s also managed to launch new, innovative programs and raise the profile of the nonprofit that provides a nurturing gathering place for 120 members with mental illness.
James, 51, rolled up his sleeves two years ago to establish seasonal and permaculture gardens that feature canopy and herbaceous layers and ground cover with plantings such as avocado, mango, spinach, salad ingredients and sweet potatoes. The group collaborated on the edible gardens with the Southwest Florida Permaculture Guild — one collaboration of several that are beginning to blossom.
Members of Hope Clubhouse are 18 or older and have primarily been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, major depression or schizophrenia, James says, adding that an estimate of 10.5 percent of the United States population lives with one of these “big three” illnesses.
James Wineinger
“There really is a strong sense of community within the Southwest Florida region. There’s a lot of interest in solving some of the severe problems that are associated with mental illness,” James says, adding there has been a growing awareness of “the lack of comprehensive treatment programs here.”
It was immediately apparent that the garden at Hope Clubhouse’s urban Fort Myers location on Broadway Avenue would provide therapy, knowledge, skills and food for the organization’s daily lunches. In a short time, it has taken on a larger dimension. As part of Hope Clubhouse’s transitional job placement program, Hope Clubhouse members can tout their horticultural skills, too. Earlier this year, James and his board worked to expand employment partnerships by launching Hope Works, LLC, to raise money for internships, such as a new horticulture internship at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers. Members also collaborated with Valerie’s House to install a healing garden at the grief center, they worked with permaculture educator and consultant Alex Nikesch on installing and maintaining plots at Lexington Country Club, and they’ve established a strong relationship with ECHO in North Fort Myers.
Gardening has “become a way to make a connection to our neighbors and larger community,” James says.
Hope Clubhouse began as a daytime program in 2007 based on the socialization model established by Fountain House in New York in 1948. James worked at Fountain House for 15 years before moving to one in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for 10 years.
“It’s starting to add up. I was 23 when I started,” says James, who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in social work. “The idea that the strength of relationships that are formed provide the fabric of community, and that’s how we help each other, has always appealed to me. With mental illness, there are so many more variables people don’t have in place that make it really hard to be successful.”
Since James’ arrival, the nonprofit’s annual mental health luncheon has tripled in attendance and grown to feature prominent community leaders. Hope Clubhouse is planning to soon expand its onsite footprint — both the building and garden.
“We definitely need more space,” he says, to meet demands destined to grow with the population. To that end, James is also looking to expand the program to the campus of an existing healthcare facility, because it can be an hours-long trip from Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres or Bonita Springs for members reliant on public transportation. “We want to make our services more available to people who live farther out,” he says, “and that’s a huge undertaking.”
It was only natural for James to introduce the garden here, as he did in Tulsa, where he became a Master Naturalist. After accepting the job here, his wife, Cindi, stayed behind in Tulsa, waiting eight months for their home to sell. So James quickly became a weekend horticulture volunteer at the Edison Estates to get to know the community and the lay ofthe land.
“I got to know the staff and the plants that grow well here. That was pretty trusting of them, but they didn’t take my clippers away,” he jokes.
James and Cindi, married for 28 years, have a small lanai garden, and they return to their native Wichita, Kansas, each year to visit family. They enjoy getting out into the region’s natural preserves.
“I love being outdoors. If I had three choices at the Clubhouse, I’d sign up to work in the garden. It’s therapeutic to get away from the computer and screens and meditative on a lot of levels. You’re in touch with nature, and the benefits of getting your hands in the dirt have been documented,” he says. “And I like someone alongside me. Learning from each other — that’s where the strength of relationships are formed.”