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WOMEN IN RECOVERY HELPING WOMEN AT GARRETT HOUSE

Women in recovery from alcoholism and addiction are brightening the holidays for women in our Garrett House program in downtown Camden, NJ.

About 75 women who attend local 12-Step recovery meetings held a fundraising dinner December 7 at Vittarelli’s Catering in Oaklyn, NJ.

“Our theme was ‘gratitude,’” said Sue, whose co-organizer is named Lynn. “Our guest speaker, Penny, spoke about her 25 years of experience, strength and hope.

“Every one of the women who came to the party brought an unwrapped toy for the children of the women of Garrett House,” Sue added. “All of the money was raised
in the hope of bringing the spirit of Christmas to Garrett House.” Some of the women also plan to attend the holiday party at the facility on December 17.

According to Sue, women in recovery have held regular Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings in Garrett House for several years. Statistics show that women at Garrett and similar programs nationwide frequently have substance abuse problems.

“This group of women in recovery is the perfect match for Garrett House because they are facing the struggles of addiction - and winning,” said Kathy White, operations coordinator for the corrections division of Volunteers of America Delaware Valley. “This partnership makes it possible for the women at Garrett House to have hope that they too can change their lives.”

Garrett House is a 47-bed facility and serves female offenders who are returning to the community from prison. The women must work or attend school full-time while at Garrett, where they also receive treatment to enable them to become productive citizens again.

In Fiscal Year 2008, 70 percent of Garrett House clients successfully completed the program. This success rate is more than double that for women who do not participate in such treatment programs.