Neighbor Helping Neighbor

LA CRESCENT – On any given day on a quiet, tree-lined Main Street in La Crescent, Minn., one might find Linsie Hempleman at her desk inside a house-turned-office busily making contacts, organizing lending items, or coordinating services for area seniors. 

Hempleman is the Executive Director of Neighbors in Action (NIA), a nonprofit organization designed to assist seniors in Southeastern Minnesota. 

NIA aims to support older adults’ independence by providing  information, resources, transportation, and practical household help, with the ultimate goal of keeping seniors living independently in their own homes. 

They currently boast over 65 volunteers and care partners serving about 280 clients, with volunteers providing transportation, lawn care and snow removal, and Care Partners providing more intensive in-home care. 

Additionally, NIA is home to a large lending library of dozens of medical and assistive care devices. The lending library is open to anyone in the area, regardless of county or state.

Hempleman says that Care Partner services and transportation are their most popular offerings.

The Neighbors in Action office is in a converted house on La Crescent’s Main Street. (Photo by Greg Lovell)

Keeping seniors in their homes

Given the challenges facing seniors, including fewer care providers and an increased cost of living, NIA meets an essential need. Individuals may refer themselves for NIA’s services, and sometimes family members, clinicians or county workers will refer them. 

Neighbors in Action began in 2005 with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services in conjunction with the La Crescent Area Healthy Community Partnership — they had been exploring ways to better meet the needs of seniors in the community.

Initially, NIA used a volunteer model to provide services in a small geographic area but later expanded to serve all of Houston County and beyond.

Shawn (left) and Michelle (right) Dunlap are Neighbors in Action volunteers who have formed a special relationship with Holly (middle). Holly suffered a traumatic brain injury when she was 32. (Photo courtesy of Neighbors in Action)

Hempleman says that a good example of the services that Neighbors in Action provides involves a client named Holly. At age 32, Holly experienced a traumatic brain injury and was left with limited communication and no mobility on the right side of her body.

Demonstrating incredible resilience, Holly taught herself to use her left hand, found new ways to communicate and modified her lifestyle to continue to live independently.

“Now, at age 67, Holly needs our support more than ever,” Hempleman stated. “Twelve years ago, NIA matched her with volunteers Michelle and Shawn Dunlap to mow her lawn. Since then, the Dunlap’s have fixed faucets, made meals, and transported her to medical appointments, adopting her as their own. They’ve formed a special connection that the Dunlap’s say’ ‘feels like family.'”

Holly greets them with a smile and, despite limited words, always thanks them with a “See you later alligator” or “Love you.”

In 2018, in response to Holly’s changing needs, NIA expanded to provide Care Partner services. She was matched with a Care Partner for weekly homemaking and in-home support. Holly and her Care Partner, Carol, have formed a special bond.

“We laugh a lot, and we make life fun,” says Carol. Sometimes this is exactly what neighbors need, a bright smile and someone they can call on when they need help.

Carol (left), a Care Partner with Neighbors in Action, provides specialized in-home support for client Holly on a weekly basis. (Photo courtesy of Neighbors in Action)

Jack-of-all-trades

Hempleman says she enjoys working at a nonprofit organization that supports the community and provides valuable services.  

“Growing up, seniors always held a special place in my heart,” she says. “I spent many hours at a nursing facility where my mom is now the administrator.”

Hempleman’s career path wound through studying criminal justice, human development and social work in college followed by working at a few different organizations. 

Ultimately, she ended up in La Crescent working for NIA, soon becoming its jack-of-all-trades Executive Director. 

Linsie Hempleman, the Executive Director of Neighbors in Action, at her office in La Crescent. Directors of small nonprofits have to be a jack-of-all-trades, in charge of programming, finances and fundraising, among other things. (Photo by Greg Lovell)

As Executive Director, Hempleman must keep eyes on everything within the program. Having a small staff also means taking on a variety of other tasks, including scheduling, budgeting, grant writing, client visits and coordinating duties and events.

“I do anything and everything, from financials to marketing to human resources and even some accounting,” says Hempleman. “No day is typical, which is the best part. The constant change and taking whatever comes my way is a specialty of mine.”

Ultimately, NIA can be a great resource and first call for seniors in need, especially when they are unsure of whom to contact. From there, staff may connect them to needed resources, including other organizations providing additional services.

“A huge perk is the flexibility we have to do things in a unique way for each client,” says Hempleman. “Their needs are our priority, and each case may look different. The most meaningful thing is that we are here so your loved ones are not forced elsewhere if they wish to remain at home.”

In order to remain sustainable as a nonprofit, Hempleman says NIA relies on grants, donations, fundraising and sliding scale fees for some services.  

“We rely on the support of the community to provide services, and we gratefully accept donations of any amount.”

As NIA heads into its 20th year, Hempleman and her team are inspired to continue their work caring for others. 

“I love that we are a nonprofit that strengthens the community,” says Hempleman. “I love the volunteers and staff on our team, their passion. Their selflessness and kind hearts are so motivating.”