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Happy Holidays!
Our residents had a wonderful holiday celebration due to the generosity of several groups and donors. We are most grateful. We celebrated the holiday early for each of the residents to be able to open their gifts together and munch on holiday snacks. It was a joyous celebration and we are incredibly thankful for each of you that make this life changing program possible. This month we wanted to share a few responses from our residents on what the holidays mean to them and their proudest accomplishments this year!
What is your favorite holiday movie?
- A Christmas Story because it is super funny!
- Christmas Vacation. It is hilarious and I watched it with my family every year.
- Home Alone. I just love to laugh watching this movie.
- Anything Disney because it always has a good ending!
If you were Santa Claus, what type of cookie would you want to be left out for you?
- Plain old sugar cookies, must be soft!
- Chocolate chip
- Macadamia nut
- Soft baked chocolate chip
What is one thing you are most grateful for this holiday season?
- Getting paid before Christmas to be able to send my son gifts for Christmas.
- To be sober and clean in an amazing environment with reconciliation of family.
- Family is what I am grateful for. Being able to get together as a family and be around the ones I love is such a blessing!
- My recovery because it has given me the ability to be a part of my family’s life again.
- The love of family and Magdalene Serenity House.
What is your proudest accomplishment this year?
- Getting to work and staying sober!
- Sobriety and meeting my commitment to Magdalene.
- Making it to one year at MSH. My life has changed and I have seen so much growth in myself and my other sisters.
- Being so content with my recovery and truly working toward a better life and brighter future.
- Continuing my recovery, getting a car, and adulting!
What is the best way to support folks in recovery during the holiday season?
- Practice love and compassion.
- Being present for them, letting them know that they are not alone and don’t have to go through the holidays alone.
- To be there for them. The fact that I have missed so many holidays can bring stress and anxiety to being there once again. This is why I lean on my support system. Also, encourage them to go to meetings (AA/NA).
- To have the holiday spirit! To spend time together and show them just how much life is worth living.
- Time, because some people do not have family. Invite them to dinner and help!
Program Achievements
- We remain at full-capacity and all of our residents are making significant progress in their healing and recovery. We are GRATEFUL!
- Seven of our residents are currently working full-time and contributing to their savings accounts. We are incredibly proud!
- Two of our residents have reached the required savings goal of $600 for our matched savings program. MSH in partnership with Generation’s Bank will match this amount with an additional $600.
- Many of our residents are spending the holiday with their children and loved ones. It has been wonderful to watch our residents safely reunify with their children this year.
- One of our residents was promoted to the Front Desk Manager position at her job. She received a raise and looks forward to moving up in her company.
- We had a former resident join our Aftercare Program. We are thankful for this important program addition.
Thank You!
Several generous donors helped us purchase a much needed new couch and rug for our living room. The residents absolutely LOVE the new furniture. Thank you for helping us continue to make MSH a place of healing and recovery!
Current Needs
- Looking to sell or donate a vehicle? We are always on the lookout for reliable, low-cost vehicles for our residents to purchase as they move toward independence. Interested in learning more? Contact april@lovehealsnwa.org.
- We are in search of a good mechanic to refer our residents to for car repairs. Have a recommendation? Email april@lovehealsnwa.org.
Will YOU Make a Year-End Gift & EMPOWER Women?
During this season of giving, the women of Magdalene Serenity House are feeling loved and encouraged by the generosity and kindness that our supporters are showing!
There’s still time and many ways to contribute to our courageous residents and graduates in 2021!
1. Visit www.lovehealsnwa.org to make your one-time contribution or set up your monthly recurring contributions. Your year-end donation will have an immediate impact.
2. 2. Start your shopping from the Amazon Smile and designate a percentage of your dollars spent to MSH.
3. Purchase items from our Amazon Wish List that our residents and graduates currently need and have them shipped directly to us.
4. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
5. Help us spread the word about how we are Healing a Community! Host us to be a presenter at your company or community group.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to those who are making the holidays cheerful, warm and bright for the Magdalene Serenity House residents:
- Isaac Ogle @ Comprehensive Botanical Services – generously helped us haul away a significant amount of brush and tree limbs.
- Alpha Phi Omega – donated stockings full of goodies for each resident.
- Coach Stacie Johnson and her Ozark Juniors Volleyball Club Team – collected holiday gifts for the residents to give their loved ones.
- Washington Regional Medical Center and Her Health Doctors and Nurses – fulfilled many of our residents’ holiday wishes.
- The staff at Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks – sponsored and delivered gifts for the residents in lieu of buying gifts for each other.
- KUAF – featured us on the Community Spotlight Program, adopted MSH as a Giving Tree recipient in 2021, collected much needed household supplies, and hosted a meal for our residents and staff.
- Students in the Walton Honors College, Sam Walton College of Business – raised funds and purchased most urgently needed items from our Amazon Wish List.
- Red Bird Naturals – delivered beautiful herbal body care boxes from the product line dedicated to Grandma Zimmer,
- Underwood’s Fine Jewelry – Selected us as a “Fab Five” beneficiary in 2021, offering matching funds from the Jeweler’s Mutual partnership.