With Gratitude

Spring Fever is Catching in Addison!

Posted in: With Gratitude by ruth on May 3, 2013 | No Comments

Spring fever was catching in Addison as several volunteers painted the interior of our Wynn Recovery Home during National Alcohol Awareness Month in April. This is the second painting project for the faith based group, many of whom previously painted our North House property.

BLESSINGS ABOUND AT SERENITY HOUSE

Posted in: Blogs, With Gratitude by ruth on December 26, 2012 | No Comments

‘Tis the season to be grateful at Serenity House, and everywhere are reminders of those within the community who make this time special for the men and women we serve.

A beautifully decorated tree greets residents at one of the residential homes at Serenity House.

Target Woodridge has generously donated Christmas trees and ornaments to Serenity House, helping to make the residential locations cheerful and bright during the holidays.

Serenity House staff wrap Christmas gifts for the men and women in the residential homes.

 Since 1985 the St. Petronille Church Council of Catholic Women in Glen Ellyn has taken on Serenity House as part of their “Adopt-A-Family” program, which benefits the men and women in extended residential care.  Each year this dedicated parish has provided sweaters, sweatshirts, coats and a variety of other much needed gifts.  In addition, the St. Petronille Junior High Youth Ministry provides handmade Christmas cards to our residential clients with inspirational words of hope and encouragement.

Recovery Home Counselor Larry Cooper selects a gift for one of his clients.

 As part of their annual Outreach Program, the St. Pius X Church of Lombard’s Christmas Giving Tree Project has provided the men and women in our recovery homes with warm winter wear, gift and gas cards, and journals.  These gifts and their generosity have gone a long way towards warming the hearts of so many residents over the years!

Staff members Wally Newman (left) and Bob Heldermon carefully choose gifts for their clients.

 The Family Shelter Service Holiday Shoppe generously invites Serenity House to participate in selecting gifts for our client’s children each year to ensure that there is holiday happiness for the whole family!

HAPPY ARE OUR HOLIDAYS!

Posted in: Blogs, With Gratitude by ruth on December 19, 2012 | No Comments

The month of December was a busy one as a team of amazing individuals performed their own version of holiday magic by making a lot of clutter disappear!  A group of energetic men, women and youth from Roberts Road Bible Church in Justice, Illinois and Parkview Church in Orland Park, Illinois volunteered their time and effort to help us clean out garages and basements at the recovery homes located offsite of our main campus.  Staff and clients remain very thankful to both groups for all their hard work!

ShareFest Elmhurst 2012 a Real Blessing!

Posted in: Blogs, With Gratitude by ruth on October 17, 2012 | No Comments

ShareFest Elmhurst grew out of a desire to see the churches of Elmhurst unite as one body to reach out to our neighbors in need.  On October 13, 2012 a group of approximately two dozen men, women and youth came out on a rainy Saturday and painted the interior of both floors of the North House Men’s Recovery Home property in Addison.  All labor, paint and material were donated by the participants and the results were truly spectacular!

We are very grateful to the following Elmhurst churches who participated in this year’s ShareFest activities:  Bethel Assembly of God, Elm Church, Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Faith Christian Reformed Church, Faith Evangelical United Methodist Church, Grace Bible Church, Pathway Community Church and West Suburban Community Church.

Seeds of Gratitude Grow in New Garden

Posted in: Blogs, With Gratitude by ruth on July 9, 2012 | No Comments

The Men’s Extended Residential Care program has a garden, courtesy of the Erpenbach Family.  But vegetables aren’t the only produce that’s growing there – gratitude is sprouting up, too!  A variety of herbs and veggies were chosen for “The Grateful Garden”, including basil, thyme, tomatoes, snap peas, green beans, carrots, cucumbers, and three different types of peppers.

Each week following Wednesday night’s dinner the men share the many things they are grateful for.  Their recovery, their families, their jobs, Serenity House and a community that cares for them are just a few of those items they are grateful for today.  It is our hope that just as the garden continues to grow and bear good “fruit,” their gratitude and progress in recovery will continue to grow as well.

Deloitte Team Really “Impacts” Serenity House!

Posted in: Blogs, With Gratitude by ruth on June 11, 2012 | No Comments

Friday, June 8, 2012 marked the 4th Annual Deloitte Impact Day at Serenity House and it proved to be one of our best Impact Days ever!  A team of 30 dedicated Deloitte employees committed their time and considerable efforts to beautifying the 6-1/2 acre main campus site in Addison by trimming, weeding, pruning, planting, mulching and sprucing up the exterior landscaping, not to mention scraping and painting a half dozen picnic tables on the property.  The results were nothing short of spectacular!  Clients and staff alike are thrilled with the results and are very grateful to everyone at Deloitte for all of their hard work!

Keeping Warm This Winter!

Posted in: With Gratitude by ruth on December 23, 2011 | 1 Comment

Local members of the community worked hard to keep our men and women warm and comfortable (not to mention stylish) this winter with homemade knit scarves and hats in a wide assortment of colors and materials.  Robin Belezzo and the Glen Ellyn Woolly Knitters Group donated their unique handiwork; pictured (left) is Camille Golden from Addison with several of her beautiful knit hats and matching scarves.

Giving Thanks at Christmas

Posted in: With Gratitude by ruth on December 20, 2011 | No Comments

The staff at Serenity House is very thankful this holiday season for all the Christmas gifts provided for our residential clients. The wonderful parishioners of St. Petronille Church in Glen Ellyn and St. Pius X Church in Lombard have again generously gone out of their way to take time from their busy holiday schedules to provide an abundance of Christmas presents and joy for each of the men and women in our programs. The St. Petronille Junior High ministry students also spent hours crafting handmade Christmas cards with inspiring messages for each client. Our residents are deeply moved knowing that someone cared enough to make their Christmas special.

 A heartfelt thanks goes to Rich Moore at Shanahan’s, with locations in both Downers Grove and Woodridge, for providing a delicious broasted chicken and Italian beef luncheon treat for the staff’s Christmas party.  As part of their annual Christmas celebration, the staff sorts and wraps presents for over 100 clients in the Extended Residential Care and Recovery Home programs.

Staff enjoys their Christmas luncheon

Staff helps sort Christmas presents

Counselor Valerie Smith helps with the gift wrapping

Handmade Christmas cards from the St. Petronille Jr. High youth ministry

Old Glory

Posted in: Blogs, With Gratitude by ruth on November 5, 2010 | 2 Comments

Dear Ruth:

This flag was my father’s burial flag. He fought in the Korean conflict in the U.S. Army. I believe it would better serve a purpose and be a fitting use in my mind as he later passed away from a chemical dependency to alcohol. In the early 90’s he tried to stop drinking on his own-this lead to a massive stroke and later death.

I believe his willingness to seek a better life will aid those whom seek your help and guidance—at least in spirit.

God bless.
Stanley C.