The first 17 months of life without our daughter has been torturous. Not seeing her smile, touching her hand and hearing her voice is painfully difficult. The blessing has been the compassion, love and support we received from our relatives, friends and neighbors. This year seems harder to us than last year did. The emptiness seems greater. The loss feels deeper.
Our decision to establish the foundation in Elizabeth’s memory has been healing. We have a new focus. One that takes us back to her home in Delray Beach, to many of the places the three of us spent lots of fun times together and she found great happiness.
The disease of addiction gets a lot of press these days. We try to watch the news stories but sometimes it is just too painful. The opioid crisis has caused more heart ache and death than anyone ever imagined. Last year in Florida’s Palm Beach county, Elizabeth was one of 561 overdose deaths. Yes, our daughter is a statistic. God that makes us so angry. We are encouraged at the outrage and the attempts to do something to change the situation. Long overdue!
In August, through the Overdose Awareness Day Event, we affiliated with the Southeast Florida Recovery Advocates, whose mission is to assemble a forum through which multiple Recovery Advocacy Groups and Recovery Organizations in SE Florida can gather to connect in their common objectives relating to Substance Use Disorder. We are working to become more educated in the field of addiction and recovery. This will help us to broaden the scope of the foundation.
Our donations started in May of 2017. They include 26 bicycles; 54 backpacks; $4,650 in gift cards; and more than $3,300 worth of personal care items. We remain steadfast with our mission and will continue to expand our efforts in 2018 and beyond. Your ongoing contributions are needed to support Elizabeth’s Foundation.
For all of you who have donated THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!
Your generosity has allowed us to help hundreds of men and women who need understanding, love and support. Len and I are deeply touched by your kindness.
Our prayer is that the holiday season be kind to us all. May the true meaning of Christmas be present in each one of our hearts. And may the opioid crisis come to an end before claiming more victims and devastating additional families. May those struggling with addiction find their way to living a clean, happy, peaceful and fulfilling life.
—Len & Mariann
The holiday season is here, and it is very scary for those living in recovery. Many have no ability to get home to be with family. Some are just not welcome. Imagine that, and then try to stay clean and sober dealing with the reality of the damage the disease of addiction has caused.
This year we purchased 10 complete cooked meals for Thanksgiving from Fresh Market that fed over 75 people. We also donated gift cards used to purchase dessert for many others. The gratitude has been overwhelming.
With Christmas just around the corner, we intend to have a small gift for every client who will be waking up in their sober home that morning. The number will likely be close to 200.
If you would like to help with this effort, please visit the website to make a donation. Thank you.