Ken Freehling dealt with depression for years.

He recalled how the Center for Community Resources intervened, convincing him to seek therapy to overcome his suicidal state.

After an 18-month stay in the hospital and time spent in a group home, Freehling started to rebound.

Eventually, he was ready to find a job. Freehling decided to spend his time helping others as he was helped.

However, a Butler area nonprofit wouldn’t hire him. He then sought help from the agency that came to his aid before.

After Freehling explained his problems seeking employment, CCR staff told him he didn’t have to look any further.

He thought there wasn’t a chance the people who knew his background would want to hire him. He was wrong.

More than two years ago, Freehling trained to become a certified peer specialist, someone who helps others going through problems similar to the ones the specialists previously had.

Freehling was telling his story Thursday to roughly 200 people attending CCR’s 10th anniversary lunch at the Days Inn off Route 8 in Butler Township.

“Thank you CCR for my second chance at life,” he said.

CCR coordinates support services for those seeking information and referrals for mental health, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse and other issues.

Freehling introduced another success story: James Yates, a young man who has intellectual disability challenges.

Yates said he’s proud to have reached the point where he could have his own apartment and be searching for a job.

Carmine Scotece, director of Butler County human services, received a founder’s award for his efforts in helping establish CCR 10 years ago.

Chad Applequist, manager of the Butler branch of Dollar Bank and CCR board member, introduced Scotece.

“Carmine brought community members together to plan a free-standing entity that would assist residents with obtaining services from a multifaceted system and provide an independent source for treatment referral,” Applequist said. “It was through that visionary collaboration and team effort a decade ago that the Center for Community Resources was started.”

Scotece said CCR represents a collaborative effort to help those in need.

“We’re all here following a shared vision,” he said.

Scotece said in an interview CCR has exceeded his initial expectations for the agency.

“For Butler County, it’s a better system of services for children, adults and families,” he said.

CCR handles more than 13,000 cases annually. Each month, there are hundreds of walk-ins. The agency has roughly 100 employees.

Mike Robb, executive director of CCR, said after the lunch that the agency never stops evaluating how best to serve the county’s residents.

“We’re always trying to refine the services we develop in Butler,” he said.

Since CCR’s formation in 2002, the agency expanded services and aided with relief efforts following hurricanes Ivan and Katrina.

In 2005, CCR formed the Utility Integrated Point of Contact to help people find money to prevent heat or electricity shutoffs.

The program has helped more than 12,000 county residents in the last seven years.

Under CCR’s Homeless Case Management program, people with disabilities or substance abuse problems are assisted.

In 2008, CCR formed a sister organization, the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources. ANR provides services, such as grant writing and marketing to fellow nonprofits.

In 2010, a third organization, the Nonprofit Development Corporation, was formed.

NDC develops multi-tenant nonprofit centers in which resources are shared.

County Commissioner Bill McCarrier touted CCR.

“It provides a valuable service to the people of Butler County,” McCarrier said in an interview.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton agreed.

“No matter where you go, people ask how is Butler County doing the things that they’re doing,” Pinkerton said about CCR being a model for other counties to emulate. “They would like to follow in our footsteps.”

Robb said the next 10 years for CCR would be a decade of exploring more opportunities to service people here and further expansion depending on state funding in the future.

Mike Pater, CCR board president, agreed state funding will dictate how CCR proceeds in coming years.

“Some (opportunities) are gained, some are lost,” he said.