After 14 years at the helm of the Great River Faith In Action (GRAFIA), Denice Freih is stepping down from her duties as executive director due to recent health issues.

 

Denice officially made the announcement just this month in their newsletter after contemplating her decision for “quite some time.”

 

“It’s gotten bigger than me and after putting all my heart and soul into it, its time I spend more time with my family.”

 

Denice said she has been facing many sleepless nights and as a result, her health has suffered.

 

“It was just a couple of weeks ago when the Lord brought to mind my own father,” she said. “He was a farmer, salt-of-the-earth, community-minded man. He worked hard his entire life.”

 

Just as Denice has these last 14 years.

 

“He died at the young age of 64 — just before he was about to retire,” she continued in the letter. “There was a time when 64 seemed like it was forever away, but it isn’t that far away anymore.”

 

Freih says she is grateful the Lord brought that message of her dad to her and at that time, she realized she wants to be around for many, many years to help care for and nurture her six grandchildren.

 

Despite the fact she is actually looking forward to the day she’ll be reunited with her daughter (Bridget), her parents and all the other family and friends she’s lost during her tenure with GRAFIA in her heavenly home, she feels assured she wants to be here at home for her husband, kids and grandkids for the near and distant future.

 

“At that moment, I knew the Lord literally said to me in a loud, silent voice, ‘You’re done.’”

 

With that, Denice’s heart flooded with peace beyond understanding and she knew immediately her time with GRAFIA was coming to an end.

 

With her decision to leave officially announced, the final hurdle she has to step over is leaving the organization as a sustainable entity.

 

“I know the organization no longer has its hands tied by governmental funders positioned with power, and yet (I am) naive about the totality of our work,” she said. “Though this loss of funding will be hard to navigate, in many ways it is freeing, for it will allow GRAFIA to move forward in much more positive ways.”

 

“Ways we hope will be supported by our clients and the greater community.”

 

Freih says GRAFIA has helped over 10,000 people in local communities through the years and has featured programs that serve as Jesus has served, dispatched volunteers as Jesus did with His disciples, and has changed lives just as the Gospel of Christ has done over 2,000 years ago.

 

“For the hurting, lonely and broken, for those struggling with dementia or other illnesses and their family caregivers. And for the priceless, precious volunteers, please join me in praying the Lord provides, protects and blesses all that are a part of this ministry,” Denice said.

 

Freih says she is leaving with a grateful heart and thanks the thousands of volunteers who have helped rake, bake, fold, paint, dust, visit and work for the organization.

 

“You are the biggest advocates and our most precious resource, Denice said of her volunteers. “Please share your story.”

 

Freih is sure the institution can survive and thrive as she departs, but it will all come down to the churches, individuals, organizations and the community to keep it going.

 

“It costs a lot of money to run this organization and if it is to continue, the community needs to embrace it,” she said. “I have loved every minute of it and have been blessed to work with such a group that gives so much.”

 

GRAFIA, in the last year alone, has helped over 1,500 individuals and families; bridged 1.300 volunteers and students to those in need of supportive services; recorded more than 20,000 hours of volunteer help. Their typical client is a female widow, around 74 years of age with low income and no immediate family living in the area.

 

“While I don’t know exactly what lies ahead, the Lord does,” Denice said. “So I’ll continue to put my faith in action and lean on Him to guide and lead. May the Lord bless and keep you.”

 

Established in February 2003, over the years GRAFIA has grown, adding professionals and programs that allow them to support family caregivers, coordinate volunteer services, bridge generations and assist families in crisis. Throughout their growth, they have remained true to their mission of promoting kind, compassionate care to people who find life difficult because of age, disability or life circumstance.

 

One of Denice’s favorite quotes comes from Winnie the Pooh who says to Piglet, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”