Volunteer Spotlight: Lisa Sherwood, Board of Directors

BCCS wishes to express our thanks to outstanding volunteer and Board Vice President Lisa Sherwood, who is retiring from Board service after four and a half years.

Lisa joined our Board in 2006. “My interest was piqued when, driving to work in Wilmington, I kept noticing the long line of people waiting in front of the building,” she recalls. Her observation, shared by many, inspired us to write a newsletter article exploring stigma and misunderstandings about people in treatment.

“As I learned more about BCCS,” she says, “I was blown away by the lives touched by the organization. And the lives saved. I wish other people had an opportunity to see the faces of recovery... people from all walks of life, all sizes, all ethnicities.. all struggling and ultimately succeeding in their recovery. This is thanks to their own courage and the team of caring professionals at BCCS.”

Lisa became an enthusiastic and dependable Board member, who always found time for BCCS despite her demanding work schedule as Director of Provider Development for Genesis HealthCare Corporation. Before becoming Vice President in 2010, she served as Board Treasurer and chair of the fundraising committee.

She also assisted with Board recruitment. Recruiting volunteers, she believes, is one of the most challenging parts of BCCS’ work. “From volunteering to be an active Board member, to volunteering to paint a mural to brighten a dreary treatment room, to running a job interview skills workshop, volunteers greatly enhance the BCCS programs. And we can never have too many!”

“Lisa’s faithful service to BCCS is without question, greatly appreciated,” said Board President Rev. Karla Fleshman. “Her tenure spanned a time of great transition in the organization; and no doubt her faithfulness to healthy communication; and her dependable commitment to the organization is coming to an end at a time when she is confident of those who remain on the Board of Directors. Her consistent presence and insightful guidance helped direct this fine organization to new leadership with an expanded mission of service. We thank you Lisa!”

Board member Lauren Pearce added, “Lisa was an incredible burst of energy who kept our Board focused and dedicated. Her enthusiasm and passion for Brandywine was demonstrated in all that she took on, including recruiting new Board members and embarking on new ideas.”

Lisa has high hopes for BCCS in the next five years. “I'd like to see BCCS in more satellite locations, growth of the needle exchange program to serve other communities in Delaware, and a second (or even third!) Lighthouse program, to serve recovering mothers and their babies. And most of all, I'd like to see BCCS triple the number of clients served. That's a tall order. But there IS a need and BCCS is positioned to rise to the occasion!”

When asked what she most enjoyed about her involvement, Lisa says, “The chance to work with some wonderfully caring and passionate people. I will miss them!”

We will miss you as well, Lisa. Thank you for your years of service, and all that you brought to the Board and the organization!

The 2nd Annual BCCS Giving Tree

BCCS hosted our 2nd Annual Giving Tree Monday December 20, 2010, bringing gifts and holiday cheer to families in need. All BCCS clients with children were invited to the Outreach Center to choose a gift for their child and wrap it. Holiday music, food, and an impromptu sing-along led by Brandywine’s own Rochelle Booker made for a very festive atmosphere!

Parents and grandparents lined up starting at 9 AM for a chance to choose from a roomful of toys for all ages. Many were in the process of starting a new life, free of drug addiction or mental illness. One guest expressed his gratitude to simply enjoy the holiday with his son, stay home, and “just do the best I can.”

The Giving Tree would not have been possible without our generous donors. We especially wish to thank our partners, Widener University School of Law, and Bryn Mawr College, who held toy drives on campus. Students took tags from the Giving Tree and bought toys matching the age and gender of the child. In addition to collecting toys, Widener Law held a raffle under the leadership of student Sara Alsaleh, which raised an amazing $662!

We are so grateful to all of you for your generosity and support of our clients at the holidays. You made it a wonderful day of gift-giving. At BCCS, we work to give Delawareans the best chance at meaningful, long-term recovery. Your support helps them to overcome mental illness and substance abuse, to restore themselves, and to give back to a society that gave to them.

You can see all the holiday magic of the Giving Tree in our photo album and in the video below.

In the words of a grandmother of two, “I wish everybody in the universe a blessed and safe holiday!” Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from BCCS!

Staff Cooks and Serves Clients' Thanksgiving Lunch in Annual Tradition

Each Thanksgiving, BCCS staff expresses thanks to our clients by preparing and serving a traditional holiday meal. More than 100 guests and their children enjoyed this year's feast, which included home cooked turkey, macaroni and cheese, veal Parmesan, sweet potatoes, greens, cranberry sauce, salad, rolls, and a variety of desserts.

One guest expressed her gratitude for the Thanksgiving basket she received earlier this week. "I am so grateful, so thankful, for the baskets that you guys give out every year. I am so pleased that you all do that for us."

Visit our Thanksgiving album to see more photos from this wonderful Brandywine tradition.

Turkey Giveaway Monday November 22

Brandywine's annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway will take place Monday, November 22!

Every year, families in need have the opportunity to sign up to receive a basket from the Basket Brigade of Delaware, filled with turkey, stuffing, and other holiday staples. Brandywine hands out baskets to around 150 of our clients each year. We are truly thankful to be able to help those who could not otherwise host Thanksgiving for their family.

This year, we're also thankful to have the support of Widener Law students, who are raising funds and volunteering to benefit BCCS. Already, students have raised over $500 through a raffle! Many will join us to help out at the turkey giveaway. And, Widener students are also partnering with us on our holiday toy drive and Giving Tree. Thank you, Widener!

If your business or school would like to help out BCCS this holiday season, please send us an email. We would love to have your support for the toy drive. Together, we can make the holidays joyful for those who most need it.

JustGive Will Match Your $10 Donation for 10 Days

JustGive.org is celebrating 10 years of giving. Thanks to donors' generosity, JustGive has sent millions of donations to tens of thousands of charities working throughout the world. Brandywine has received $871 from supporters like you through JustGive since their start.

To celebrate these 10 years of giving, thank donors, and further their mission of increasing charitable giving, JustGive will add $10 to every donation made for ten days, beginning 10/10/10.

When you visit www.justgive.org/10years and donate $10 or more to Brandywine, a $10 match will be added to your gift. Your donation helps people recover from addiction and mental illness, and now with this $10 match, you can have an even greater impact.

So let's take advantage of this special offer! Please forward this post to anyone who supports Brandywine's work. Together we can make a difference for recovering persons and their families. Thank you.

The First Time In So Long That I Could Remember Feeling Hope

Here’s another thank you note we received from a client at BCI Georgetown.

It was May 25, 2009, and I was three years into my relapse using all kinds of prescription pain medicine and barbiturates. I had already been to detox, a rehab, tried going back to Alcoholics Anonymous, private counseling, but had no hope. I just could not stop. My family was at the end of their rope with me, I had lost countless jobs, and friends. It was also my mother’s birthday, Memorial Day weekend, and I had a real knack for ruining any kind of family celebration. I had heard of this kind of despair, I had gone to AA when I was a lot younger, and stayed sober for many years. However, like the story goes, my life got better, and I began to put my sobriety on the back burner until my addiction came back and my life became a living hell.

I got a DUI that night and it is a true miracle I didn’t kill anyone. A couple days later in a drug induced stupor, I almost set our house on fire, and my mother put me out for the last time. I had nowhere to go, I checked into a motel and prayed to die. The next morning I woke up, and decided something had to be done, but still had little hope. I talked to a counselor, who convinced me to try another rehab. I really wanted to get sober again but didn’t think it was possible.

The second day I was at the rehab, I met the director, who was a friend of my father’s (he had also gotten sober through Alcoholics Anonymous). She asked me what had happened, and what I wanted to do once I got out. I told her I wanted to go to a halfway house for mothers and children, but didn’t think there were any in Delaware. She told me she wanted to check on something and she would get back to me. To my surprise, the next day she approached me and told me about a program in Georgetown, through Brandywine Counseling that she thought I might qualify for and could really help me and my twin 10 year old girls. I was really excited; it was the first time in so long that I could remember feeling hope.

On June 19, 2009, I left the rehab, and drove with my daughters to Georgetown. I was given an intake at Brandywine Counseling, and advised I could move with my girls into the Level 4 house through their Lighthouse Program. I started attending groups at the Lighthouse 3 days a week, along with group and individual counseling at Brandywine. I also started attending AA and NA meetings in Georgetown. Another girl and her daughter moved into the house from the Lighthouse Program and we became good friends. I got a job, got a sponsor, and started putting my life back together. It has not been easy, my car was repossessed and I have had to pay fines to clear up the damage from my past. Financially, things have been tighter than they have ever been in my life.

In March of this year, thanks to the employment counselors at Brandywine, I was able to enter back into the field of employment of cosmetology, which I love so much. My individual counselor always seems to find the positive in me, which I have a hard time seeing for myself. I have a great relationship with my daughters, and am rebuilding the relationship with my Mom. I have also been able to mend old friendships and made tons of new ones.

BCI Is Helping In Every Area of My Life

Here's a thank you note we received today from a client at BCI Georgetown.

I would like to give BCI Staff a thank you for everything. I have been a part of the Lighthouse women's program and part of the outpatient part. I not only get help from my counselor but also other staff. I have been using drugs all my life. I never took my medication. BCI is helping in every area of my life. They have helped me get back on my meds. They have helped me open up and talk about my feelings. They are helping me with transportation to and from appointments, employment, housing, and just not giving up.

Thank you BCI

BCI Thanks David Oppold for 15 Years of Board Service

Longtime Brandywine Counseling Board member and past President David Oppold has retired from board membership after fifteen years of dedicated service.

“My time on the Board, serving first as Vice President and for the past twelve years as President, has been most rewarding,” said Rev. Oppold. “I have seen the amazing growth and cutting edge services created by this organization. I will continue to hold a special place in my heart for Brandywine Counseling.”

David was instrumental in BCI’s purchase of the 2713 Lancaster Avenue building, and also in pushing for HIV/AIDS treatment at our sites. BCI thanks David for his many contributions to our organization, and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

Celebrating Shay Lipshitz’s 19 Years with BCI

Brandywine Counseling gives thanks to and celebrates the career of a longtime member of our team, Shay Lipshitz, as she leaves BCI for new endeavors.

Sheera Lipshitz, or “Shay” as she likes to be called, had many accomplishments in her 19 year career with Brandywine Counseling. She started as an outreach worker in 1991, providing education and intervention in high risk communities about drug abuse, safe sex, and HIV/AIDS. She then joined the Assertive Treatment Team, providing counseling and case management to severely and persistently ill I.V. drug addicts. She helped to develop BCI’s original program for pregnant women, Diamond Deliveries. This partnership with Wilmington Hospital provided supportive services to drug-addicted women with high risk pregnancies in their homes. In 1994 she returned to the Assertive Treatment Team as Project Director.

In 1997 BCI opened its Riverfront Site and Shay became Site Supervisor, overseeing the methadone program, transitional housing, transportation, and all BCI’s case management programs. In 2003, BCI expanded into Sussex County and Shay became Site Supervisor at the Georgetown Site, overseeing the Project Renewal homeless program. In 2007, when BCI was awarded state funding to start the Lighthouse residential treatment program, she oversaw the project from startup to opening within a 4 month period, including completely renovating an old shelter home, and forming partnerships with social service providers and the faith community.

Shay received her MHS in 1995 from Lincoln University and has been a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor since 1992. She was the project director on 3 grants from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). She served on the Homeless Planning Council; the Division of Drugs, Alcohol & Mental Health DUI Appeals Committee; and the Delaware HIV Consortium Policy Committee. She received the Kelly/Pazzaglini Memorial Institute Scholarship Award in July 1999 and the Brandywine Counseling President’s Award in 1999. Shay brought to BCI her experience providing women-specific treatment, treatment for pregnant women, and ability to implement non-traditional services. She knew that environment plays a crucial role in recovery from substance abuse and addiction. She also brought a passion for helping others in need and was quick to roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty to get a job done.

Shay is a strong advocate for treatment and recovery because she knows personally that treatment works. She believes addiction is a deadly disease that left untreated kills more than the person, and destroys families, homes, health, dreams, hope and dignity. She takes joy in keeping families together that otherwise would have been separated, and watching the faces of children who are spared the suffering that comes with active addiction.

Our BCI family is grateful to Shay for her many years of service, for touching the lives of countless individuals affected by addiction, and for being a part of our lives. We will miss her and wish her all the best in her future pursuits.

United Way Made Their Goal

United Way of Delaware announced yesterday they made their 2009 campaign goal of $20.5 million.

United Way President Michelle Taylor said, "These would be strong campaign results in any year, but they are truly inspiring considering the current economic situation. This success is a testament to Delaware’s giving spirit."

Campaign co-chair Diane Gulyas said, "This was a challenging year for Delaware, but businesses and individuals stepped up to meet the need of their neighbors. Thank you to everyone who participated in this campaign. Together, we are truly improving lives."

Thank you so much! Your generosity helps ensure our outreach team will continue to be out on the streets, opening windows of trust.

Chris Zebley Honored with Surprise Party

Nurse Practitioner Chris Zebley was given a surprise party yesterday to celebrate his 2010 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Nurse Practitioner Award for Excellence. Staff from BCI and Christiana Care attended and Chris was presented with a plaque. Congratulations, Chris! Your performance inspires us all and your success is well deserved.

Giving Tree Video: We're Happy Cause We're Helpin' People!

Here's some video from yesterday's Giving Tree toy giveway. This is what the holidays are all about. In true BCI style, we partied, we joked, we sang, and we got emotional to see some of our favorite success stories stop by. A big, big thank you to Jenner's Pond, Jillian Grace Salon, Sedona Fitness and Spa, and BCI staff for donating these wonderful gifts!

From our BCI family to yours, have a very Merry Christmas!

Giving Tree Creates Holiday Magic for BCI Clients

Today, Brandywine Counseling hosted a very special event, our first annual Giving Tree party. With the help of some generous friends, we made a little holiday magic and spread some cheer.

During the month of December, a toy drive was held to make some holiday wishes come true for our clients’ children. Several friends of BCI placed Giving Trees in their workplace, including Jenner’s Pond, Jillian Grace Salon, and Sedona Fitness and Spa. Their employees took tags from the tree and bought toys matching the age and gender of the child. We were wowed to see the mountain of gifts that came in! BCI staff also took part in the drive with our own Giving Trees at three of our locations.

Today, it was time for our elves to deliver the gifts in time for the Christmas Holiday. We hosted a “Give A Child A Gift" party at the Outreach Center, and we invited our clients to come over and choose a gift to give to their child. Refreshments were served and there was wrapping paper for parents to wrap gifts themselves.

One mom who picked up gifts for her five kids said, “It was very nice for Brandywine to do something like this.” A grandmother of two said, “This really helps. She’s gonna love the Playdoh!” Another mom who took a Lite Brite home to her daughter said, “It’s supposed to be for the kids, but it makes you feel good, too.”

You can see photos from the party here, and a video is coming shortly! Thank you to our generous donors for making our first-ever Giving Tree a success! You took time to reflect on all the “gifts” you have in your life and remembered those who could use a little help this year. You helped make this a wonderful time of year for them!

Lawyers In Jeans Raise Money for BCI

The law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has donated $225 to BCI that they raised with an employee “Jeans Day” fundraiser. Thank you for this generous gift!

Skadden Associate Jennifer Karpe, a BCI Board member, organized this event. On December 4, employees donated $5 each to wear jeans to work. It looks like they got great participation!

The Wilmington office of Skadden, Arps handles corporate transactions, litigations, and reorganizations and restructurings for Fortune 500 companies and corporate clients. The firm places a high value on community service:

In addition to actual pro bono legal work, our lawyers have been active in a wide variety of charitable endeavors, working with, sitting on boards of, and even running, many types of civic, community, cultural, governmental, educational and medical organizations, a number of which seek to improve the lives of the less fortunate.

So we say a big “Yeh!” to Skadden for their commitment to giving back and for doing it in a fun way. It makes a big difference.

Your Donations In Action!

What do a roller derby team, a yoga organization, a Cleveland Browns fan club, and a retirement plan consultant have in common?

They all made donations to Brandywine Counseling in the past year. The Wilmington City Ruff Rollers helped us test 56 people for HIV. The Greater Wilmington Yoga Association helped us plan therapeutic activities to our clients. The Beach Dawgs helped brighten the holidays for recovering moms and their kids. And IPA Northeast helped us replace outdated computers with new ones. We are so proud to have such an eclectic group of donors!

These organizations may be very different, but they have one thing in common – they believe addicted people deserve help to recover. And they know that by supporting BCI’s work, they can help make sure that help is there. They took action, and they got something back: the joy of knowing they made a difference!

You can feel that joy for yourself. All you need is a desire to help. Contact BCI today to find an opportunity that fits your own personal vision. We will work together with you to turn it into meaningful action.

BCI to Offer Clients Yoga, Thanks to Donation

BCI would like to send a big thanks to the Greater Wilmington Yoga Association for their donation of $2,000. These funds will be used to enable our clients to experience the therapeutic benefits of yoga. The group is unfortunately dissolving and wanted to donate the money they had left in their account. We are honored and grateful that they remembered us and thought enough of BCI and our clients to make a donation.

Details on our yoga activities and how clients can take part will be announced shortly. Thank you to Michele Hensey and the GWYA board for this generous gift!

Volunteer Spotlight: Gwen Cichocki, Outreach Support

Gwen Cichocki is a longtime volunteer with us in our Outreach Center. For several years, she's come in once a week to work in the clothes closet, restock supplies, and do many other small but necessary jobs to help out the outreach team. In this video by Will Leitz, Gwen talks about the work she does, and why it's personal for her. We couldn't do what we do without the help of people like Gwen!

Kids at Lighthouse Will Stay Healthy and Fit, Thanks to Donation

The kids at The Lighthouse Program will soon have more ways to have outdoor fun, thanks to a donation from a local church. Wilmington Friends Meeting has generously donated $500 toward the purchase of toys for BCI’s residential program.

We’ll be using these funds to buy toys that will keep the kids physically active outdoors, such as roller skates, jump ropes, tricycles, and games like volleyball and horseshoes. They’ll also be able to play indoors, with new accessories for our Nintendo Wii Fit system that promote a healthy lifestyle. Exercise and recreation are important for the kids at Lighthouse as they rebuild their family life and their bonds with their moms outside of the drug-using lifestyle. Thank you, Wilmington Friends Meeting! We really appreciate this gift.

The Lighthouse Program, located in Ellendale, Delaware, is the only non-profit residential substance abuse treatment facility in Delaware that permits mothers to bring their children with them. If you’d like to support Lighthouse, you can view our wish list here or donate online.

The Beach Dawgs Bring Holiday Cheer to Lighthouse

Our moms and kids at the Lighthouse Program will have gifts to look forward to this Christmas thanks to a generous donation from the Beach Dawgs. This Delaware-based Cleveland Browns Fan Club, which includes BCI’s Shay Lipshitz, decided to sponsor Lighthouse and bought all the gifts you see in the pictures. They are a great bunch and we are very thankful for their support. Thanks to club President Maureen Keenan, pictured below with Shay and friend.

Why We Got Involved! Supporters of The Lighthouse Program Tell Why Giving Feels Great

Since the opening of The Lighthouse Program for women and children, we at Brandywine Counseling have seen a wonderful response from people in the community who want to help out the program by donating time or items. Thank you to all of you!

You’ve volunteered to teach classes for the moms, including crocheting, computers, ceramics, and Life Skills. You’ve donated toys, clothing, a huge train set, five sewing machines for the sewing class, and handmade quilts for the babies. Most impressively, you answered our call to help build a children’s playground, as we raised over $19,500 and surpassed our goal! The playground has been built and gives our kids an outlet for relaxation and releasing stress while their moms work on their recovery.

It’s time now to celebrate you, our donors. We want to share some of your stories, why you gave, and what it meant to you. Though your reasons for giving were quite diverse, you did have something in common: a feeling of personal involvement. By giving, you were also getting something back. And, there was another common thread: Shay Lipshitz, BCI’s Director of Sussex Services. It seems that wherever she goes, Shay can’t help but spread her enthusiasm for the program!

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Miriam Zadek was one of the first friends Shay introduced to Lighthouse. “The Lighthouse program has a superb advocate in Shay,” Miriam says. “Her ability to engage one’s interest, both by providing information about the importance of programs such as Lighthouse, and her willingness to share her own story, can capture the imagination of anyone who has the privilege of hearing it.” Invited to visit the program for a firsthand look, Miriam willingly accepted. “I was struck by the young women[’s] engagement in achieving goals which would lead them to being productive, accomplished, self-sustaining parents and individuals.” However, she also saw a paucity of resources for children's play and learning. She saw the need to rectify this, and decided to support the playground campaign with a donation.

“My husband and I have spent happy summers and year-round visits in Rehoboth, and owned homes here since 1973. We feel, wherever we live, that we have an obligation to give. We have welcomed opportunities to assist several programs in the area, all of which aim to assist people in acquiring the skills to live more comfortable, productive lives. We are especially concerned with the need for educational resources for children. As programs provide opportunities for growth, this makes our world a better place for all. We hope, in giving, that we can encourage others to give, according to their capacity.”

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Suzanne Squires became involved with Lighthouse for a different reason. For her, it was a chance to support addiction recovery, something she has personal experience with as Shay’s sponsor. “Addicted mothers have the hardest time staying with their children,” says Suzanne. “Through the Lighthouse Program, they can be with their children and learn parenting skills.” Upon visiting the program, she found it was “wonderful; very homey and clean.”

She felt she could impact the program in a positive way by donating. “I decided to donate because I thought it was a much needed program. It is a great feeling to know that by contributing, I have helped someone in a very concrete way. Every little bit helps. I think Shay and Brandywine Counseling have made a big difference in a lot of people’s lives. I applaud them!”

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Carol Ann Rudolph became introduced to Lighthouse and Shay through the Seaside Jewish Community. Carol Ann met Shay through her late mother, Dorothy Shor, with whom she used to play mah jong. “Shay told me about her work, and I was totally intrigued by it, and very, very moved by the concept of this program.” After visiting the program, she became even more committed to raising money. “The facility has been done so beautifully. The quality of the work, the space for the counseling is so warm and inviting. It’s a place that’s been built with a sense of dignity and respect for the women, and for the hope they will have a better life, and I truly sense that.”

In September, Carol Ann organized a “Lunch With A Purpose” fundraiser (pictured above) in conjunction with Seaside to benefit Lighthouse. About 60 people attended, the largest turnout the luncheon had ever had. $450 was raised from a raffle including gift certificates, crafts, and art. In addition, guests pledged a number of in-kind donations to the program.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to use your energy and your time for something as purposeful as this program,” Carol Ann says. “These women are now going to be able to be productive in society, and they’re going to be healthy, mentally, physically, emotionally. Then, they will have better lives. The children will have a better quality of life, and a better chance at life in this society.”

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Florence Levy brings a one-of-a-kind perspective as a supporter of Lighthouse. An 84-year-old retired nurse, Florence gave out the first dose of methadone in Delaware in 1968, at Wilmington Hospital. That clinic turned into Brandywine Counseling in 1985. More recently, she became friends with Shay through Seaside Jewish Community.

Florence recalls what a new experience it was to open the clinic with less than ten patients. “I didn’t know a drug addict from a hole in the wall, all I knew was some guy that played a horn in New York City in a dingy bar. That was my opinion of a drug addict! I had no idea what I was dealing with. Everybody said, 'Aren’t you afraid?' Well, I wasn’t afraid of them. I went to conferences in Washington, D.C. and I was the only older white woman without torn jeans and long hair!”

Under Florence’s supervision, the clinic grew, and soon it generated success stories. “We had one young woman who was pregnant, and we started to wean her off of the methadone, and she didn’t know we were weaning her off, she just thought maybe she was getting a touch of the flu. When we gave her the last dose, she was so thrilled and so excited, she was jumping and dancing around. We had a success story! Over the years, I’ve lost track with a lot of them, but it was a rewarding assignment and it was an education for me.”

When Florence learned that Lighthouse was opening, it just made sense to become involved. “I was there for the opening day when Gov. Minner was there. I truly believe in it, and to have their children there is a great asset.” Years ago, Florence would have eagerly taken a more active role in the program, but today she feels the best way she can contribute is through the occasional donation of money and clothes. The reason is simple, and the same as it was forty years ago. “It feels wonderful to help those people.”

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We could not celebrate our donors’ stories without including Shay herself, because in addition to directing the program, and spreading the word to others, she is also a donor. Why does it come so naturally to tell others?

“I tell because I believe in what we do at Brandywine,” she says. “I tell because I know personally that treatment works. I tell because this is a deadly disease that left untreated kills more than the person. Addiction destroys families, homes, health, dreams, hope and dignity. I tell because I am loyal to a company that gave an addict like me a chance to work. I tell because to watch the faces of children who are spared the suffering that comes with active addiction is a joy unparalleled. I want people to put a face on recovery. I do not think people have seen treatment. They hear about it, but have no idea what it looks like.

“I gave because it is a way of giving back the gift I received. Recovery has given me a life that is priceless and my dollars would never even be possible without it. I give because it shows that treatment works, and I give because I am thankful.

“My donation was for the playground. Many of the children have had little fun in their short lives, and I want to hear their laughter and see the moms feel joy from the happiness of their kids. I have a wonderful life, and I am grateful to be clean and sober. I am the one who benefits from my giving. In recovery, it is my obligation to pass on what works, and giving to others works. It has for me.”

The Lighthouse Program is funded by and is part of the system of public services offered by Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. For more information about The Lighthouse Program, please call 302-424-8080.