Handmade art, succulents fuel Summit County Clubhouse’s mission

Photo: Summit County Clubhouse

PARK CITY, Utah — On Wednesdays at the Park City Farmer’s Market outside Park City Mountain Resort, a table overflowing with potted succulents and watercolor sketches doubles as a crash course in community-based mental-health care.

“Everything we do here is done by or with members,” said Jen O’Brien, executive director of Summit County Clubhouse, the nonprofit that staffs the booth. “The farmer’s market table is a communication and marketing effort led and supported by members — they pot the plants, create the art, and tell shoppers what the Clubhouse means.”

Work as therapy

The Clubhouse operates year-round as what O’Brien calls “a community center for adults with mental-health challenges,” offering nonclinical support for housing, education, and employment. “There aren’t really very many options for nonclinical approaches to mental wellness for adults,” she said. “We use work as a tool for recovery and wellness, and the market booth is an extension of that.”

Clubhouse members mist the air plants, build display shelves, and balance the day’s receipts — tasks that mimic traditional employment routines while rebuilding skills and confidence.

Donation-based model

Shoppers won’t find price tags. All items are offered for a donation. “The booth is not so much about making money,” O’Brien said. “We’re trying to increase awareness about this resource and about the importance of nonclinical approaches to mental health.”

The cash that does come in covers program staples, from emergency grocery bags to helping with first-month rent. Still, O’Brien said financial stability remains the nonprofit’s biggest hurdle. “The best way to support a small nonprofit is financially,” she said.

Art in action

Member artwork now sits beside the succulents because of Ellie, a Clubhouse participant who paints on her days off. “Ellie told us, ‘I’d love to share my art,’” O’Brien said. On opening day she set up an easel at the booth so passersby could watch her paint — a live reminder that creativity can be therapeutic.

“For someone who’s really struggling, art or music can be a great support,” O’Brien said. “When Ellie sells a piece, she’s not just raising money. She’s proving to herself and to others that life with mental-health challenges can still include purpose and dignity.”

Misconceptions and volunteer needs

O’Brien is quick to dispel the idea that the Clubhouse is only for people in crisis. “Everybody, at some point in their life, has mental-health challenges,” she said. “You don’t have to be severely ill or disabled to benefit — or to contribute.”

The booth currently appears every other Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the goal is to secure enough volunteers to operate weekly. Help with outreach and marketing is especially valuable, O’Brien said. “We do need people with those skills at the farmer’s market and beyond to get the word out.”

Visitors can arrange a tour and lunch with members by emailing info@summitcountyclubhouse.org. “People coming in and sharing their own stories give a lot of hope to members who may not be in a good place right now,” O’Brien said. “Sometimes the most powerful thing you can offer is simply showing up.”