OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — First responders deal with a lot of stress in their jobs--and often times, they can't help but bring that stress home to their spouse and family.
That's why an Omaha nonprofit is working to help veterans and other individuals recognize, address, and overcome issues related to stress.
The nonprofit, called Free Weights and Freedom, was started by veteran Adam Tripp to provide holistic physical and mental wellness for first responders, veterans and their spouses (active or retired).
Among other services, in January 2019, the organization launched the Respond Stronger Grant Initiative that provides a year-long paid membership to the recipient's gym of choice to help alleviate some of the burden that comes with the financial cost of joining a gym.
"We saw the benefits of what physical fitness gives us. So in the army you see it a lot, in a place like Orange Theory, there's a bonding that happens, a sense of community, and we felt like physical fitness helps more than just help your physical wellness it's a total well-being," said Tripp, a veteran who served in the Army for nearly 20 years.
"A lot of veterans struggle with the transition from military to civilian life. When I was in the Army, I had a clear mission, a clear purpose. I felt like I was making an impact and when I came home, I felt like I lost all of that. Like many other veterans, I suffered through depression and fitness has helped me deal with that," Tripp added.
Tripp was also married to a first responder and saw first-hand the stress the job can cause for a spouse. For him, it was paramount for the nonprofit to include spouses.
"About 60-75 percent of applicants were spouses of police officers in Omaha and Council Bluffs. That was eye opening for us to see what we were dealing with," said Tripp. "For first responders, their entire livelihood and career is being built on others, and what ultimately happens is they neglect themselves. Then they have a spouse at home who is taking care of their own career, the home, kids, and then they also have to deal with being the main caregiver and show compassion to their partner, and they then too neglect themselves."
One of those spouses who benefited from the grant is Chelsea Dembinksi. Her husband is an Omaha Police Detective in the Gang Unit and serves on the SWAT Team.
"He's completely seven days a week, on-call 24 hours a day. He works nights, weekends, holidays - we have three kids who are very active so to constantly be taking care of people - it was a lot. There was little to no time for me," said Dembinski.
Before the grant, Dembinski applied for the grant, she said she was not a fan of working out, nor did she have the time. Since January, she's been going to Orange Theory.
"Now I'm in here 4-5 days a week and I don't like to miss," added Dembinski. "I've brought my sister and recruited some girlfriends to come too."
Besides the benefit of having no cost to go to the gym, which could easily cost nearly $100 a month, Dembinski says she's noticed a positive impact in all aspects of her life.
"I'm happier. I sleep better. I also have more energy because I amg oing to workout every single day. I'm putting effort for me. Like I put in my application essay, you can't pour from an empty cup and my cup was empty. Like drained. Now it's filling up more and more each day and I feel like a new person."
Tripp said there were nearly 60 applicants, and nine of those applicants were awarded the grant in the first year. He's hoping to double the amount of grants awarded for next year.
The nonprofit is having it's First Annual Night of Honor to fundraise to support more gym memberships on Tuesday, Dec. 3 and will recognize individuals from the Omaha Police Department and Omaha Fire Department for their exemplary service to the community.
For more information on this nonprofit, visit their website.
