Today was our 4 year anniversary as a non profit society. I wrote a short history of the society and had a little surprise for some of our volunteers.
19 years ago today, I was a homeless person. It was because of my struggles with alcoholism. I slept in doorways, on benches, and under the bridge. I was at that time sober, but my drinking had burned so many other bridges that I was jobless and homeless. I lived like that for two months. Eventually, I moved into a transition home in North Dartmouth for men in recovery. It's called Freedom Foundation of NS. I lived there for two months until I was able to successfully reintegrate back into society.
Two years later, I went back to Freedom Foundation as a staff member and I worked there on and off for the next 12 years. Alcohol was my primary addiction and although I had done drugs also, I wasn't very knowledgeable about some of them. At Freedom, I learned about the different kinds. I saw crack addiction at its worst. I learned about the methadone program. I learned about co-occurring disorders. That's when you have an addiction and a mental illness also. I saw depression, suicide and many other things. I learned a lot while I was there.
I left in the spring of 2012. In a conversation with a friend of mine, it was suggested that I open my own house. Five of us got together and formed Last House on the Block Society. Our intention was to open a transition home for men in recovery from addictions. Originally, it would be called Safe House. Unfortunately, an organization with a similar name was already registered so we had to pick a new name. Since recovery houses are often the last house on the block for most alcoholics or addicts, we thought that might be a good name for us. I asked the registrar if that name was taken – Last House on the Block Society. She said that it was available and that's how we got our name. Ironically, our office is the last house on our street.
Opening a house proved to be too big a project for us and we decided to scrap the idea. Instead of dissolving the Society, we altered our mission statement so that we could act as a community outreach for persons in recovery. That was in 2013. Nancy suggested that she could knit some scarves for the girls in Margeurite Center and give them as Christmas gifts. So, we did that. By Christmas we had 45 scarves. We donated some to Margeurite, some to Direction 180, and the rest we presented to Club 24 and In From The Cold, two recovery events that take place over Christmas.
By Christmas of 2014, we had 190 scarves. The scarves are placed in gift packs with other knitted or purchased items (thermal socks, personal care items, candy, a Christmas card). We dress up as santa when we deliver them. In order to protect the anonymity of those who receive our gifts and to preserve their dignity, we never meet any of them. We give the gifts to the staff that operate the facilities and the staff give them to their clients.
In 2015, we altered the mission statement slightly so that we now act as a community outreach for persons in recovery not only from addictions but also abuse and homelessness. Many of the people we help are also living with mental illness and although that is not in the mission statement, it is a big part of what we do.
The project continues to grow and expand. At the writing of this, we have 265 scarves. We have that many because of our knitters. I have recently learned to knit, and therefore I know the amount of time and effort that goes into making a scarf, or a headband, or whatever.
I think it's important to recognize the contribution of our volunteers. So, I prepared a little something for all our knitters.
I presented the knitters in attendance with framed cerificates of appreciation. we also had certificates for some of the knitters who could not be there. Then, we had some cake and closed up the meeting.
Bernie Schultz
President & Co-Founder
