Cassandra Sheets

Utica, New York – In 2022, the Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR) launched a new initiative: The CFLR Circle of HOPE. This initiative provides a means for individuals to become involved in supporting the programs of the Center for Family Life and Recovery by committing to a small monthly gift. One story that sticks out, is Jim’s story, in fact you might have seen his commercial/testimonial he helped us create this fall. Jim is part of our Peer Alliance program, a program we are so proud to offer to the recovery community. Peer Alliance is a series of training courses that help both, those already in recovery along with those trying to get into recovery. Jim’s video is attached below for reference. It truly is about paying it forward. To date, our program has a 100% graduation rate, in fact, many of our trained peers have received and accepted jobs in other community agencies as Peer Advocates.

Unfortunately, the funding for this lifesaving program is at risk for the coming year. As you contemplate your year-end giving, please consider providing Help and Hope with a year-end gift to CFLR. Your gift will provide valuable support for Recovery and Prevention programming. Join with other givers to empower people to achieve recovery!

With a pledge of $25.00 a month, or more, people become part of an exclusive group dedicated to providing sustaining support all year in easy to manage, automatic gifts. Select the monthly amount you can give, and it will be automatically charged to your account monthly on the day you select.

Your monthly support can help in so many ways:

• $25.00 – Help us spread awareness and resource materials with 5 HOPE bags
• $50.00 – Help us offer engagement opportunities for those in recovery
• $100.00 – Provides family support groups to help families during the recovery process
• $250.00 – Provides training, mentorship, wellness, and support to grow our peer alliance
• $1,000.00 – Help provide suicide prevention programming to local high schools

Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is proud to be the area’s leading expert in advocacy, prevention, counseling, and training. As a community partner, it is important to us that we continue spreading the message of help and hope to our area and with those whom we work.

Along with supporting individuals and families struggling with addiction, mental health and behavioral issues, CFLR’s goal is to inspire Hope, provide Help, promote wellness and transform lives. The vision of CFLR is to be a leader in creating a world where people have the power to achieve and celebrate recovery. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com

Utica, New York (November 2023) – For the entire month of December, store leadership at Hannaford’s 1122 Mohawk Street, Utica NY location has selected Center of Family Life & Recovery to receive a $1 donation from every purchase of the $2.50 Hannaford Community Bag.

The Community Bag Program facilitates community support with the goal of making a difference in the vicinities where shoppers live and work. More than $1.2 million has been donated to over 5,000 local nonprofits since the Program launched in October 2015.

“We are thrilled to be selected as the beneficiary of the Community Bag Program,” said Cassandra Sheets, CEO of Center for Family Life and Recovery. “Community programs such as this help us to offer community events and resources to those in recovery, creating a community and opportunities to engage with others that have been on the same journey. They also help reduce the stigma around recovery and offer hope.”

For more information on the Hannaford Community Bag Program, visit hannaford.2givelocal.com

Along with supporting individuals and families struggling with addiction and recovery, mental health and behavioral issues, CFLR’s goal is to inspire hope, provide help, promote wellness and transform lives. The vision of CFLR is to be a leader in creating a world where people have the power to achieve and celebrate recovery. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com

Utica, New York – An event sponsored by Center for Family Life and Recovery (CFLR) called “Hope in a Bowl of Soup” is planned for Tuesday, October 24^th in Rome. The event is an opportunity for people to learn about the recovery efforts from community agencies, and enjoy assorted soups and baked goods, while offering hope to those in need of recovery support.

“Hope in a Bowl of Soup” is funded through the Erin’s Light Fund and CFLR. Erin’s Light is a recovery support effort in memory of Erin who lost her battle with addiction in 2019. The founding principle of Erin’s Light is every recovering individual needs some love, inspiration, grace, and hope today. Erin’s family, to keep Erin’s legacy alive, continues to champion the recovery of individuals in our community.

Along with supporting individuals and families struggling with addiction, mental health, and behavioral issues, CFLR’s goal is to inspire hope, provide help, promote wellness, and transform lives. The vision of CFLR is to be a leader in creating a world where people have the power to achieve and celebrate recovery. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com.

“Hope in a Bowl of Soup” is Tuesday, October 24th, 2023, 11:00AM – 2:00PM at the CFLR Rome Office at 201 West Dominick St. For more information, call: 315.733.1709 or email rgreen@cflrinc.org

Utica, NY – The Center for Family Life and Recovery (CFLR) celebrates National Red Ribbon Week, which is celebrated annually October 23-31, is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program.  Red Ribbon Week was started after the death of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who in 1985 was brutally tortured and murdered by drug traffickers he was investigating in Mexico.  As a tribute to SA Camarena, high school friend, Henry Lozano and Congressman Duncan Hunter, created “Camarena Clubs” and the wearing of a red ribbon to show their oppositions to drugs.

CFLR Prevention specialists are embedded in many local schools in Oneida County and will be providing education around the Red Ribbon Week mission and theme, as well substance use education and providing students with the opportunity to sign personal pledges to be drug free. In most of these schools, “wear RED days” will honor National Red Ribbon Week. In all the schools where CFLR staff work, resources will be provided to parents on their virtual platform and, in some schools, spirit weeks are planned where students will dress up based on special themes of the day. In one elementary school, daily announcements focused on Red Ribbon Week will happen Monday, October 23 – 27 and will engage students in coloring pages that are based on the Red Ribbon theme of the year, “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free.™”

The 2023 National Red Ribbon Week Theme, “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free™” Danielle Helm, a Youth Service Coordinator from Russell County Middle School in Russell Springs, Kentucky. This year’s theme is a reminder that everyday Americans across the country make significant daily contributions to their communities by being the best they can be because they live Drug-Free! Celebrate Red Ribbon Week in your community or your child’s school and raise awareness of living a drug free life. Take the opportunity to talk to your kids about drugs.

Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is proud to be the area’s leading expert in advocacy, prevention, counseling, and employee assistance programs. Along with supporting individuals and families struggling with addiction and recovery, mental health, and behavioral issues, CFLR’s goal is to inspire hope, provide help, promote wellness, and transform lives. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com