Christian Provided Mental Health Services For Eau Claire & Dunn Counties
Red House of Hope
Providing mentorship, guidance, and resources to those who need hope.
Who We Are
Red House of Hope is a Non-Profit 501C located in Dunn County Wisconsin serving Chippewa Valley and beyond. We are excited to have a team that is taking action while collaborating and supporting other community programs, bringing back hope that has been lost to so many through struggles and hardships.
Our vision of expansion to open a retreat center became a reality in October of 2023 when we began leasing the property. Our retreat center is an umbrella that partners with other local ministries to offer a variety of workshops, retreats, and events.
We stand on Romans 15:13 (NIV)
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Hope is from God for all and we want to help everyone to be refreshed and reconciled to Him. We do that through support groups, mentoring, addiction and mental health awareness events (in which we partner with local nonprofits and community resources), and retreats.
Meet The Team
Melissa Walczak
Founder/President
Melissa has been an RN and EMS provider for over 30 years. She has been retired from Mayo after 28 years of service. She joined Mary Kay in 2006 and has been a director since 2010. In terms of leadership, Melissa has led the Little Red School as the President of PTA and advisory boards. She is on the board of the New Life for Today's ministry, and most recently one of the lead organizers of The Chippewa Valley Revival and Beyond. Melissa is a trained Financial Peace Instructor and has facilitated Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University classes. She also provides private financial class sessions to support those experiencing poverty. She was a retreat volunteer and mentor with Marriage Encounters for 10 years. Melissa and her husband also provide respite care for kids in need.
Deb Creaser Kipp
Vice President
Deb has been in management for most of her career. After retiring, she found she finally had time to serve her community by supporting local outreach organizations. She has traveled to Honduras to help install water wells and to provide women's ministry. After the suicide of her brother in 2018, her commitment to advancing mental health and suicide awareness became a passion. She is currently working toward becoming a Certified Mental Health Coach through Light University.
Laurie Brantner
Secretary
Laurie has a BA degree in Business Administration and Finance. She has worked in an office setting for 30 plus years, doing administrative duties, HR duties such as payroll, benefits, compensation, and the finance department. After retirement, she worked as the Township Treasury for 2 years. She moved to Eau Claire and now works on a temporary/part-time basis for the state of Wisconsin and the local library.
Rick and Nanci Williams
Hospitality and Catering
Rick and Nanci have been married for 32 years. They have two children, one daughter, Keyara, age 24, and one son, Jaelin, age 21. They have lived in Eau Claire since 1993. Rick is a Marine veteran with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. He has managed and owned his own restaurants and catering businesses. Rick has over 27 years of experience in these fields. He is a men's cell group leader and loves to reach out to men of all ages to offer support and guidance.
Nanci has been an RN since 1988 and has worked in many different settings in different states over the years. She is a women's cell group leader and enjoys connecting with women in the community. She has a heart for caring and finds ways to make people feel welcome and accepted.
Kim Holten
Treasurer
Kim has worked in the bookkeeping field since 2002, specializing in small churches and nonprofits. She is the owner of K1 Bookkeeping Services LLC, located in Prairie Farm, WI, serving clients in the Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, and Elk Mound areas. Raised in Pennsylvania, she attended Delaware County Community College and Penn State, eventually finding her way to Wisconsin in the early 90s. She enjoys the challenge of keeping a business’s books in order, generating reports that tell a story, and creating processes along the way.
As a QuickBooks Online Certified Advisor and CNAP Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional, she enjoys all functions of bookkeeping, and sharing her love of QuickBooks with others who need a little guidance.