Kelsea’s Birthday Month and Daughter’s House 5th Anniversary

Each month, Mia Ellis (Rage’s Administrator and Newsletter Editor) and I brainstorm about what we can tell you about Rage: we like to give you information about our sober living houses and events, and share testimonies from our favorite people in recovery and those who support them. But this month, I want to write something to our supporters about our “Why.”

Why is Rage Against Addiction a voice to help people who struggle with substance use disorder? In the beginning, rage was the big emotion I felt in the very core of my soul because of what addiction was doing to my daughter Kelsea. The need for help was great and the resources were slim. My first goal was a sober living house for women in recovery, and although the goal was big, it was also necessary. My point of reference at the time was brief and shocking. My girl stayed in a sober living house for a short time or for a long few days. I guess it depends on who you are asking. For me, it was too short and for her, it was too long. The options were limited and the conditions were not the best.

In an attempt to help, I decided to start a non-profit organization and a Facebook page. Fundraising is a big must in the non-profit world unless you are receiving a large grant, a huge donation, or many small hard-earned money contributions from donors who support you. Your mission and vision are nothing but a dream. I started posting about what addiction was doing to the lives of so many people and today we have close to 70K followers. We love to thank our Facebook donors with a T-shirt, a shout-out on our social media pages, or in our monthly newsletter. As we always say: we cannot save lives without you.

The phase called community awareness and fundraising took about five years before we got to the point where Rage could open its first house. Daughter’s House was established in November of 2018 as a Level II sober living house for women in recovery. Ironically, my daughter’s birthday is in November too. I distinctly remember the day I found THE house: I was driving through Bel Air, Maryland when I saw a sign that said “FOR RENT.” I pulled over, took a picture of the sign, and called the number. I nervously asked the owner on the other end of the phone if the house was still available and told him what I wanted to use it for. To my surprise, he was completely fine with the idea! It was so fun furnishing and decorating, and everything quickly came together so seamlessly. We decided to call it Daughter’s House, after our program of the same name and for all of the daughters that would eventually come through. I remember all the names and faces of that first year. The third woman who walked through the Daughter’s House door is now a member of Rage Against Addiction’s Board of Directors. The Daughter’s House Program is now three houses strong and services up to twenty women at a time. Our program is a respectable and safe environment allowing the space needed to earn their lives back in protected sobriety. What better birthday present is there to give to my girl who will be gone for eight years this December? My tears have been wiped away with deep purpose and dedication to keep doing what we are doing. Thank you to all who support us. We are able to do what we do because of you!

Sincerely,
Wendy Beck, Founder and Executive Director

Usually this space is for Wendy’s words of wisdom, but because she wrote such a touching tribute to her daughter and to our first sober living house, I want to share a few words. In this season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I try to focus on all of the good I have in my life: a wonderful family, good health, and a job that allows me to truly make a difference in the lives of others. I am also thankful for the time I had with my sister Dana, who passed away due to her own struggles with addiction and mental illness. I very much wish Rage’s sober living houses were around when she was here because I believe she could have benefited from the support, the accountability, and the care that goes into that environment. Sometimes the memories can be dark and painful, but the love was and always will be there. The empty seat at the holiday gatherings often feels so big, but she’s never truly gone because I know I am keeping her alive in my mind and in my heart with all of the things I do with Rage.

Please check our Event Calendar for more details about what we are up to!

November 19: To honor the five-year anniversary of Daughter’s House, Rage will be providing a pizza dinner this Sunday to five sober living houses in and around the Harford County, Maryland area. This is a great way to remind everyone how far Rage has come, how far the house residents have come in their own way, and how far they can go with a happier and healthier life.

November 23: Thanksgiving dinner will be provided to our three sober living houses with turkeys donated by a generous supporter, and several sides made by our group of volunteers who never cease to amaze us with their willingness to step up with love and care.

November 30: Das Bierhalle (119 South Main Street – Bel Air, MD 21014) will be donating 10% of dinner sales to Rage AND our very own Tara Kuzma will be there collecting Target gift cards and cash donations for children who have been affected by addiction as part of our Project Christmas Kids program.

December 3: We will be in the Bel Air (Maryland) Christmas Parade with bells on! Come watch our Rage team rock around the Christmas tree for recovery! For more details about this family fun event, check out the event Facebook page.

April 13, 2024: Celebrate TEN years of service with us as we honor those in recovery and remember those we lost. Our annual Memory Walk / Recovery Run will take place at Cedar Lane Regional Park (1100 Cedar Lane – Bel Air, MD 21015) and we want to see YOU there. Registration details will be released soon. Stay tuned!

We serve locally but think globally. For counseling, or for addiction, substance abuse disorder, or mental illness treatment, please contact your area’s health department, county government, hospital, or law enforcement agency.

Addiction Connections Resource: A non-profit organization that assists with providing resources and support for addiction treatment and that educates the community about substance abuse disorder. Located in Fallston, MD. Please visit here or call 443-417-7810 for more information.

Ashley Addiction Treatment: An inpatient treatment center that personalizes clinical programs based on individual need. Located in Havre De Grace, MD. Please visit here or call 800-799-4673 for information about online and in-person meeting services.

Celebrate Recovery: A local support group for those with addictive behaviors. Located in Bel Air, MD and Joppa, MD.​

Mt. Zion Church (1643 Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21015): every Thursday at 5:45pm. Please visit here for more information about meetings.

Mountain Christian Church (New Life Center 1802 Mountain Road, Joppa, MD 21085): every Friday at 6:00pm. Please visit here for more details.

GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing): A local support group for those who have lost someone to addiction.

6:30pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.

Located in the Education Building at Mt. Zion Church: 1643 Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21015

Contact lisa.craig4@verizon.net for more information. The private national Facebook group is available. Please visit here to ask to join.

The Klein Family Harford Crisis Center: A clinic that provides immediate care for mental health and addiction. Located in Bel Air, MD. Please visit here or call 410-874-0711 for information about services.

Loving An Addict: A local support group for family and friends of those in active addiction.

6:30pm every Tuesday.

Located in the Education Building at Mt. Zion Church: 1643 Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21015

Contact lisa.craig4@verizon.net for more information.

Voices Of Hope: An organization made up of people in recovery who advocate for behavioral health disorder prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery resources, who eliminate the stigma of addiction through outreach events and education, and who support all pathways of recovery including harm reduction and Narcan training. Located in Cecil County, MD. Please visit here or call 443-933-7055 for information about services.

Daughter’s House: Designed to assist women who are transitioning from substance abuse treatment to recovery; includes three sober living houses (Daughter’s House, Sister House, and The Cottage) located in the suburbs of Harford County, MD. Click here to visit the Facebook page.

RAA ABC (After Baby Care): Provides post-partum care packages to new mothers in early recovery. Check out our program Gift List here.

Rage Club: This program is a resource broker for families and children who have been touched by the devastation of addiction; we encourage open and ongoing conversations as we believe that is the first step in the healing process.

HALO (How to Live Without Our Addicted Loved One): An online grief support group specifically for those that lost loved ones to substance abuse. Click here to ask to join the private Facebook page. *Please read and answer the membership questions prior to joining.*

Wendy Beck: Founder and Executive Director

Rachel Bongiorno: Recovery Coach and Daughter’s House Program Director

Mia Ellis: Newsletter Writer and Administrator

Amanda Buddenbohn: Board of Directors

Tara Kuzma: Chairman of the Board of Directors