Our 4th Annual Gratitude Banquet “Fighting for Families” was a huge success! Thank you to our honorees and Judge Murray for an insightful speech. Tommy Taylor received the surprise Spirit of Recovery Award. Recovery Centers of America presented Voices of Hope with our own plaque award for our work with harm reduction in the community! We raised over $5,500 for recovery housing and special needs for Cecil County people seeking or maintaining their recovery. Our 2018 banquet raised about $2,000 so we are thrilled with this growth. Thank you for the over 250 people who purchased or donated tickets, all of our sponsors and those who gave some very amazing items for our silent auction.

For pictures of the event, click this link.

We are continuing our outreach efforts with over 1,791 encounters so far in 2019. We have given out 352 safe use kits, 316 safe sex bags and 291 Narcan kits. Many of our encounters include conversations about health, prevention, treatment and support. Several have resulted in access to treatment, reaching a few who have been struggling on the streets of Elkton for a long time .

Voices of Hope was one of 9 local organizations that participated in the UNSHELTERED International Resource Clinic at Hollingsworth Manor on April 6. This faith-based event offered reading glasses, birth certificates, haircuts, Bibles, lunch and more to the over 334 attendees (not including volunteers!). VoH provided Narcan training and connections to treatment and community recovery supports. Click here to see pictures and data collected of the event.

We continue to offer Narcan training, volunteer opportunities and recovery supports to the community. Sometimes that is sending Peer Recovery Specialists to funerals to provide support to families and friends of those who we have lost to addiction or related to substance use. Last week, our Peers attended 4 funerals in 6 days. At one funeral, a relative of the deceased had to be revived with Narcan. We are grateful to have been there to help. The trauma of experiencing such grief and despair takes its toll on all our Peers. We are seeking ways to increase emotional supports to our volunteers and employees. Your prayers are welcome. Donations to our cause is deeply appreciated!

For the latest events, keep an eye out on our Facebook page! There are many trainings and opportunities that are offered only to those who have completed our Volunteer Orientation. Stay involved, make a difference!