For the second year in a row, Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment has taken part in the Wonderfund Holiday Gift Drive. The Wonderfund is a private non-profit organization that works on behalf of the children engaged with the MA Department of Children and Families. The holiday drive aims to provide the 53,000 children involved with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) with gifts to open during the holidays. This year, Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment was given the opportunity to help create magical holiday moments for 17 children.
Giving Back During the Holidays
Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment chose Wonderfund for a few reasons. Through our work, we see first-hand the impact of growing up with a parent who has substance use issues. For many children in DCF custody, their parents suffer from the disease of addiction and lost custody due to not being able to provide adequate care. Children can often be collateral damage on the path of destruction that addiction drives on.
Helping Those in Need During the Holidays
We see the trauma experienced by these children that can lead to a path of addiction themselves well into adulthood. Our team has worked with adults who have DCF involvement and are working towards gaining custody back through engagement in treatment and sustained recovery from substance misuse. In recovery, we talk about active addiction as a full-time job, and combining that with the full-time job of being a parent is often a recipe for disaster.
While many people have negative opinions regarding the involvement of DCF in families’ lives, the involvement of DCF allows parents to focus on their sobriety and learn the skills needed to be a parent. With the help of treatment providers, fellowship, and supportive DCF workers, individuals are able to learn the skills needed to balance being a parent in recovery.
Altruism: Selfless Concern for the Good of Others
In treatment, we often talk about the importance of giving back once we progress in our recovery. Practicing altruism means we develop a loving relationship with life that is not dependent on external conditions. Giving back allows us to offer the same help that has been essential to our own recovery. Altruism can leave us feeling energized and happy because it triggers the release of endorphins in the brain, a natural reward! When we help others, it allows us to express our attitude of gratitude for how far we have come and a reminder of where we once were.
As a team at Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment, we find it is vital to practice what we preach to our clients. Altruism is an important value we hold here as a team. Being able to give back to a population impacted by the disease of addiction is important to us. Providing children within DCF gifts for the holidays through the Wonderfund has become a tradition here at Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment.
From the team at Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment, we want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Please reach out to us at wordpress-369007-3249831.cloudwaysapps.com or visit our contact page directly if we can be of any assistance during these times.
Warmest Regards,
Brittany King, LMHC
