It is better to give than to receive. We’ve heard this all our lives. But is it true? Jesus says it is in Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” But, do we believe this? There have been multiple studies on the topic revealing that people who give time and money are happier, live longer, and feel more connected. We’ll take it. And we also want to share it. To get you started, we are highlighting 12 of our favorite recovery-related nonprofits for your consideration. Giving Tuesday, the Super Bowl for charity is the perfect time to start. So, Ready, Set, LET’S GIVE!
National Nonprofits
1. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Established in 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community. The program empowers those who suffer to take action against this leading cause of death.
Since its founding, AFSP has reached thousands of people who are at risk for suicide and has connected tens of thousands of people who lost a family member, loved one, or friend. They operate local chapters in all 50 states and have educated hundreds of communities about suicide and how to prevent it. AFSP continues to support scientific and clinical research on suicide and its prevention. Additionally, AFSP has equipped reporters and the media with education and resources on how to best cover suicide.
2. Natural High
Natural High is a charity that empowers teenagers to find their own natural high, via outdoor activities to keep them from abusing drugs to achieve a synthetic high. It was started after the ‘Just Say No’ campaign of the 80s proved to be a complete failure. The founders of Natural High wanted to try something different in the way of drug abstinence advocacy.
3. Partnership to End Addiction
The Partnership to End Addiction helps the helpers by working with families, professionals, and other organizations to end addiction. They take a public health approach, rooted in science and compassion. The mission is to transform how our nation addresses addiction by empowering families, advancing effective care, shaping public policy, and changing culture. The Partnership provides personalized support and resources for families impacted by addiction while mobilizing policymakers, researchers, and health care professionals to more effectively address addiction systemically on a national scale.
4. The Phoenix
Since 2006, The Phoenix has helped over 38,000 people across America rise above addiction and harness the power of self-transformation. It was founded by Scott Strode and a core group of team members to be a safe, sober active community of peers who support each other every day on the journey to recovery. Scott found hope in his own recovery while discovering how ice climbing helped all his problems, fears, and shame of addiction melt away. See more about Scott’s story and how he is using his experience to help so many others in this TedTalk video.
You can support The Phoenix with a donation and by purchasing their SOBER merch.
The Phoenix #ADDTOCART
5. Shatterproof
Addiction is our country’s most urgent public health crisis. As a result, 184 of our children, siblings, and loved ones now die from drug overdoses every day. Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the United States. The focus is on one specific goal: transforming America’s addiction treatment system.
Your donations directly work to ensure that every American with a substance use disorder has access to treatment based on proven research. Because better addiction treatment means more lives saved. It’s that simple.
Therefore, every dollar you donate is carefully used to support key initiatives. As a result, shatterproof has a big impact on preventing overdose deaths and promoting long-term recovery.
6. To Write Love on Her Arms
TWLOHA was initially founded as a way to fund treatment for 19-year-old Renee Wohe. This non-profit has grown to raise millions of dollars for organizations around the world. They focus on drug addiction and a wide array of mental health issues. Therefore, a number of celebrities endorse their work. You can show your support with a donation AND by purchasing some very cool TWLOHA merch.
TWLOHA #ADDTOCART
7. The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people between the ages of 13-and 24. The creators of the Academy Award-winning short film TREVOR founded the nonprofit in 1988.
The Trevor Project provides a number of programs including crisis intervention through their call, text, and chat lines; suicide prevention training and resources for adolescents and adults; and, community resources to help communities. Both in-person and online programs are offered and support each other.
Local Nonprofits
8. Dallas 24 Hour Club – Dallas, Texas
Dallas 24 Hour Club was founded in 1969 by Lee Tillman to have a place open 24 hours per day for individuals suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction seeking help. Over the next 50 years, Dallas 24 Hour Club grew to offer to house, the first with 6 beds for homeless men only, to our current facility, which has 75 beds, services for both men and women. The 24 also hosts (37) 12-Step Recovery Meetings each week. They are available for the suffering alcoholic or drug addict 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
9. The Magdalen House- Dallas, Texas
The Magdalen House is a non-profit organization helping women achieve sobriety and sustain recovery from alcoholism. The program is at no cost and based on 12-Step spiritual principles. Founded in Dallas in 1987, The Magdalen House remains the only agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to offer comprehensive recovery services without insurance or state funding. Because of volunteers, grants, and donations, it’s 100% free of charge.
10. Gearing Up – Philadelphia, PA
Gearing Up creates a safe, supportive environment for people whose lives have been impacted by multiple challenges. Through group bike rides, participants can enhance confidence and life skills, strengthen physical fitness, and build emotional health. The organization helps participants adopt healthier lifestyles to combat histories of abuse, addiction, and incarceration.
Moving in the right direction!
Programs offer a safe space where people can seek advice and encouragement, build friendships, and make community connections leading to personal growth and positive life changes. Participants gain confidence as they learn practical skills and set goals. Biking can provide an important means of transportation as people look to reenter the workforce and move toward their long-term success.
11. FareStart – Seattle, WA
FareStart has been helping people transform their lives through food for nearly 30 years. One person, one job, and one community at a time.
People in poverty struggle to escape the cycle they are in and often face other compounding barriers to getting and keeping a job. FareStart helps people overcome those barriers by teaching them the work and life skills they need to succeed in the food service industry and in life. Through restaurants, cafes, catering, and programs that provide meals to social services, shelters, and schools in the Seattle area, participants in these programs get practical work experience while giving back to their community.
In 2011, FareStart launched a national initiative, Catalyst Kitchens, in order to share our unique model with nonprofit organizations across North America.
12. Recovery Cafe & Recovery Cafe Network – Seattle, WA
Recovery Cafe provides a beautiful, safe, warm, drug and alcohol-free space and loving community to anchor Members (our most closely-supported consumers) in sustained recovery. They provide what’s needed to gain and maintain access to housing, social and health services, healthy relationships, education, and employment. There are two locations in the Seattle area.
The founders know every human being is precious and beloved regardless of past trauma, mental and emotional anguish, addictive behaviors, or mistakes made.
Recovery Cafe Network
The Recovery Café Network is committed to nurturing groups seeking to start recovery communities based on the Recovery Café model. Through a cohort learning model, groups and organizations will be provided mentorship, materials, expertise, and facilitated learning experiences to create a recovery community in their area. The Network is committed to helping those who join the Network as Emerging Members be successful in starting their program, building recovery capital in their communities, and becoming certified as Full Members of the Network.
The numbers surrounding addiction in America are astounding. Unfortunately, with the challenges of 2020, the number of those affected continues to climb. There are so many causes worthy of support but we hope you will consider these 12. It takes a village, but we can make a difference in fighting addiction. So please, go forth, give generously and be happy!
Please ask for help if you or your loved ones are struggling with substance abuse
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
