2019 is almost over and Rage Against Addiction has a lot to look back on.
April:
On April 13, 2019, the 4th annual Rage Against Addiction Memory Walk/Recovery Run was held at Cedar Lane Regional Park in Bel Air. There were over 1,000 participants, and funds raised helped about 200 people get into and stay in treatment through the Sober Living Funding Initiative.
June:
On June 20, 2019, the Bel Air Moose Lodge 1953 hosted a Quarter Auction for Rage. Proceeds supported the Sober Living Funding Initiative as well as Daughter’s House.
August:
On August 31, 2019, in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, Rage partnered with GRASP, a local grief support group, to host a picnic and dove release at Friends Park in Jarrettsville to remember those our community lost to addiction.
September:
On September 6, 2019, the Harford County Health Department sponsored Rage to host a crab feast in honor of National Recovery Month. Proceeds benefited Daughter’s House, Rage Club, and the After Baby Care programs as well as Rage’s Sober Living Funding Initiative, which provides resources for people to get into and stay in local treatment centers.
November:
On November 14, 2019, Wendy Messner, Founder and Executive Director of Rage Against Addiction, spoke to Harford Community College students and professors about the organization and about the impacts of addiction. It was standing-room only and many students shared their personal experiences with addiction as well as asked questions about the various programs Rage offers.
On November 16, 2019, a recovery discussion and overdose awareness candlelight vigil was held at Mt. Zion Church in Bel Air, and was sponsored by the GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing) support group and Rage.
On November 17, 2019, Rage celebrated the one year anniversary of Daughter’s House, a local women’s sober living house for those transitioning out of substance abuse treatment.
Quarterly
On December 7, 2019, Rage Club held it’s quarterly event at Buontempo Brothers Pizza in Bel Air. Rage Club provides safe, engaging activities and counseled discussions for children ages 8 to 15 years old who have been affected by addiction.
In Other News
Ashley Addiction Treatment and Rage have partnered to ensure that children who are affected by addiction have another safe place to go. Ashley’s Children and Youth Program is designed for children ages 6 to 14 years old, and assists children and young teens with age appropriate and healthy outlets for emotions, provides fun and educational games and activities, and encourages discussions between children/young teens and their caregivers about the domino effects of addiction. This program meets the second Saturday of each month at the Havre De Grace location and is free to Rage Club members but registration is required.
Resources and Program Information
2020 Recovery Run / Memory Walk: A 5K fundraiser to benefit Rage’s various programs, and to support those in recovery as well as remember those lost to addiction.
Ashley Addiction Treatment: An inpatient treatment center that personalizes clinical programs based on individual need. Located in Havre De Grace, MD. To learn more, please call 800-799-4673 or visit here.
Daughter’s House: A local sober living house designed to assist women who are transitioning from substance abuse treatment. Click here to visit the Facebook page.
GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing): A local support group for those who have lost someone to addiction. (The group meets at 7pm on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at Mt. Zion Church in Bel Air, MD.) Click here to ask to join the private national Facebook group. To register for the monthly Harford County, MD chapter support group, please email lisa.craig4@verizon.net.
HALO (How to Live Without Our Addicted Loved One): An online grief support group. Click here to ask to join the private Facebook page.
The Klein Family Harford Crisis Center: A clinic that provides immediate care for mental health and addiction. Located in Bel Air, MD. To learn more, please call 410-874-0711 or visit here.
RAA ABC (After Baby Care): A program offered by Rage Against Addiction that provides newborn-care items to mothers in recovery. Please send monetary donations to:
Rage Against Addiction (Rage ABC)
PO Box 1
Forest Hill, MD 21050
Rage Club: A program offered by Rage Against Addiction for children who are touched by substance abuse disorder. Click here to register.
In Loving Memory
Allison Noel White
December 25, 1986 – June 25, 2019
My beautiful sister, Allison Noel White, was our Christmas angel who was taken way too soon. She had the most infectious smile and would do anything to help others. I miss everything about her, especially her hugs and kisses. She left behind a son, James Paul, who is 11 years old. I look at him and see her. He loves hearing stories from when we were younger because unfortunately, he never saw that side of his mommy and he likes knowing how she was before addiction took over. There is no question that she loved him more than anything and would do anything for him. There are times I hear something funny or do something only she would understand, and I find myself feeling so empty and alone because she is the only person I would tell. She was the only person who knew everything about me, good and bad, and she was the keeper of all of my secrets. With it being the first Christmas and her first birthday in heaven, the only things keeping me going are my children and the memories I hold dear to my heart. It’s still so hard for me to believe that the memories are all I have left. My only hope is that she is no longer in pain and is free of this awful disease of addiction. I love her and miss her every second of every day.
By Kait Van Daniker
Calendar of Events
January 8, 2020:
GRASP support group meeting, 7pm
Mt. Zion Church
1643 Churchville Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
January 11, 2020:
Ashley Addiction Treatment Child and Youth Program, 9am to 3pm
Ashely Addiction Main Campus
800 Tydings Lane
Havre De Grace, MD 21078
April 4, 2020:
Rage Against Addiction Memory Walk / Recovery Run, 8am
Cedar Lane Reginal Park
1100 Cedar Lane
Bel Air, MD 21015
Rage Against Addiction Team
Wendy Beck: Founder and Executive Director
Tara Kuzma: Chairman of the Board of Directors
Amanda Buddenbohn: Vice President
Rachel Bongiorno: Recovery Coach and Daughter’s House Program Director
Tara Slaughter: Family and Recovery Resources and Support
Rage Against Addiction
P.O. Box 1
Forest Hill, MD 21050 Wendy@rageagainstaddiction.com