Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center

Warmth for Chicago's Most Vulnerable: Coat Drive & Hygiene Kits

Our Story:

Above and Beyond is a unique Chicago-based outpatient addiction treatment center for those with substance use disorders. We follow the Harm Reduction model which does not require abstinence to access services. Anyone who walks through our doors are welcome to an array of treatment modalities at no cost to them, whatsoever. Considering the work we do, many of our clients are either unhoused or lack stable housing. With Chicago's winter season approaching, our hearts go out to those who will be battling the harsh cold. We're launching this initiative to provide whatever warmth we can, along with essential hygiene supplies to our unhoused neighbors.

Why we need your help:

Everyone deserves to stay warm and healthy, but as we are too aware, not all have these basic needs. Chicago winters are incredibly harsh. The biting cold and lack of adequate shelter can lead to despair, health problems, hopelessness, and even death.

To make a meaningful impact, we need your support. Your generous donations will allow us to purchase new winter coats and essential hygiene supplies to distribute to those in need.

What will this money go towards?

With your help, we can:

1. Purchase high-quality winter coats (for both adults and children) to protect against the Chicago cold.

2. Purchase and assemble life-saving hygiene kits with essentials like Narcan, masks, oral hygiene necessities, and condoms.

3. Distribute these items the day after Thanksgiving - we will be doing this ourselves with volunteers, directly to impacted areas throughout Chicago.

Ways you can help:

1. Donate: Your contribution, no matter how the small or large, will directly benefit our neighbors in need. If you are local, we also accept winter clothing donations, but they must be NEW. We are looking for coats, boots, gloves, scarves, socks & blankets!

2. Share: Spread the word about our campaign on social media, with friends and family, or other organizations to extend our reach.

3. Words of Encouragement: Leave supportive messages to boost spirits of those we serve.

THANK YOU!

We cannot express enough gratitude for your support. Your generosity will make a world of difference for those facing the harsh realities of homelessness during this year's Chicago winter. Together, we can offer warmth, hope, and compassion.

Let's make Chicago warmer and safer for everyone! Please consider donating and sharing this campaign to help us reach our goals and provide essential care to those in need.

Thank you for your dedication to our cause!

With love,

Above and Beyond

Make a Family's Holiday: A&B's Annual Toy Drive

Above and Beyond is back with our annual Toy Drive! We are a unique Chicago-based outpatient addiction treatment center for those with substance use disorders. Our Harm Reduction model does not require abstinence to access services, and anyone who walks through the door is welcome to treatment for free! For many of our clients, the holidays are tough and may not be significant. We hope to brighten their holidays each year by providing toys for their children.

Why we need your help:

In the spirit of giving, our Toy Drive aims to bring joy to clients and their children who may be struggling to make ends meet. Your generosity can provide them with a memorable and heartwarming experience during this festive season.

What will this money go towards?

With your support we can:

1. Purchase age-appropriate toys for children. Your contributions will allow us to provide a diverse selection of gifts for children of all ages. Each family will have enough gifts for three children.

2. Wrap gifts. We will be wrapping the gifts ourselves to provide families with a full holiday experience.

3. Distribute gifts on December 22nd. Once wrapped, we will distribute gifts before the end of the month!

Ways you can help:

1. Donate! Your contribution, big or small, will bring smiles to the faces of these families. Every donation counts! If you would like to purchase toys yourself, we are also taking toy donations, though they must be new.

2. Spread the Word! Share our campaign on social media, with friends, family, and colleagues. Help us reach more people and make a larger impact!

THANK YOU!

Your support is a gift in itself, and we are deeply grateful for your ongoing kindness. We are so thankful for this community that keeps showing up! Together, we can make this holiday season a magical and unforgettable time for families who may otherwise go without. Your generosity will create moments of joy, warmth, and love for those facing challenges this holiday season.

Join us in bringing holiday cheer to those who need it most. Thank you for considering donating, sharing this campaign, and helping us make a positive difference in the lives of children and families in our community.

You are a beacon of hope and joy!

With heartfelt appreciation,

Above and Beyond

Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center is a FREE, Nonprofit (501C3), behavioral, outpatient addiction treatment center on Chicago's West Side. We cater to homeless and formerly incarcerated populations who do not have access to the state-of-the-art compassionate, non-judgemental harm-reduction services that we offer. Our populations can break the cycle of relapse by uncovering their purpose and meaning in life (Logotherapy) so that they can learn to self-navigate their lives to achieve their own, chosen destinies.

Our facility is gorgeous but it pales in comparison to the beauty of the patients and their reclaimed lives. We have seven, open mutual help process groups, which include: AA (and varieties of 12 steps), SMART Recovery, Recovery Dharma, Men for Sobriety, Women for Sobriety, LifeRing, and WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan). Our clinical protocol offers 30 process groups that each deal with an evidence-based, research-supported, addiction-related subject matter, such as: Death and Dying Anxiety, Rage Reduction, Street Yoga, Acupuncture, Joke Therapy, REBT, Soul Train Dance Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Loneliness Alleviation, Mindfulness Relapse Prevention, Women's Trauma, Improv Therapy, Spirituality of Imperfection, Horticultural Therapy and many more.

THEY NEED COATS!

That is why we need your help, because our alternative funding sources will cover the therapies we provide and not the warm clothing that they so badly need in the wintertime.

We make this clothing (not only warm coats of every size including huge to tiny (and children sizes) available to patients who walk through our doors and we also drive around handing them out to encampments of homeless people. We do this on an ongoing basis so any sustained help will really be appreciated by the people who receive the warm clothing.

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of all donations turn into warm clothing. Not one penny goes to any other expense of overhead! We actually end up supplementing any shortfalls as long as it is not too substantial.

TOURS of our facility and programs are WELCOMED and you will be shown one of the most magnificent programs that exists in the United States. We are one-of-a-kind and have won numerous local, state and national awards in our short lifespan.

Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center: The vision of Above and Beyond is to build an individualized treatment experience that is available to anyone in need regardless of their economic status. Our clients and clinicians create therapeutic alliances that design and execute personalized programs of recovery that co-exist side-by-side personal development and growth goals. We believe that recovery is a process that requires meeting individuals where they are at as well as addressing their environmental life circumstances such as: education, employment readiness, interpersonal relationships, and social reintegrative abilities and activities.

COATS, GLOVES, SCARVES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS IN THE GARFIELD PARK AREA BY STAFF OF A&B AND STUDENTS/FACULTY OF THE CHICAGO SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.

EXTRA ITEMS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED FROM THE A&B FOOD PANTRY.

Why we need your help:

Everyone deserves to stay warm and healthy, but as we are too aware, not all have these basic needs. Chicago winters are incredibly harsh. The biting cold and lack of adequate shelter can lead to despair, health problems, hopelessness, and even death.

To make a meaningful impact, we need your support. Your generous donations will allow us to purchase new winter coats and essential hygiene supplies to distribute to those in need.

Our Story:

Above and Beyond is a unique Chicago-based outpatient addiction treatment center for those with substance use disorders. We meet people where they're at--abstinence is not required to access any of our services. Anyone who walks through our doors are welcome to an array of treatment modalities at no cost to them, whatsoever. Considering the work we do, many of our clients are either unhoused or lack stable housing. With Chicago's winter season approaching, our hearts go out to those who will be battling the harsh cold. We're launching this initiative to provide whatever warmth we can, along with essential hygiene supplies to our unhoused neighbors.

What will this money go towards?

With your help, we can:

1. Purchase high-quality winter coats (for both adults and children) to protect against the Chicago cold.

2. Purchase and assemble hygiene kits with essentials like Narcan, masks, oral hygiene necessities, and condoms.

3. Provide hot coffee and donuts for individuals in need on Black Friday, which is our distribution day.

Ways you can help:

1. Donate: Your contribution, no matter how the small or large, will directly benefit our neighbors in need. If you are local, we also accept gently used winter clothing donations. We are looking for coats, boots, gloves, scarves, socks & blankets!

2. Share: Spread the word about our campaign on social media, with friends and family, or other organizations to extend our reach.

3. Words of Encouragement: Leave supportive messages to boost spirits of those we serve.

4. Volunteer: If you are interested in giving your time please fill out the form attached! We rely on volunteers to support our efforts and get coats and materials to as many individuals as possible.

THANK YOU!

We cannot express enough gratitude for your support. Your generosity will make a world of difference for those facing the harsh realities of homelessness during this year's Chicago winter. Together, we can offer warmth, hope, and compassion.

Let's make Chicago warmer and safer for everyone! Please consider donating and sharing this campaign to help us reach our goals and provide essential care to those in need.

Thank you for your dedication to our cause!

With love,

Above and Beyond

Make a Family's Holiday: A&B's Annual Toy Drive

Above and Beyond is back with our annual Toy Drive! We are a unique Chicago-based outpatient substance use treatment center. Anyone who walks through the door is welcome to treatment for free! For many of our clients, the holidays are tough, and we hope to brighten their holidays each year by providing toys for their children.

Why we need your help:

In the spirit of giving, our Toy Drive aims to bring joy to clients and their children who may be struggling to make ends meet. Your generosity can provide them with a memorable and heartwarming experience during this festive season.

What will this money go towards?

With your support we can:

1. Purchase age-appropriate toys for children. Your contributions will allow us to provide a diverse selection of gifts for children of all ages. Each family will have enough gifts for three children.

2. Providing wrapping paper, and gift bags for the full holiday experience.

Ways you can help:

1. Donate! Your contribution, big or small, will bring smiles to the faces of these families. Every donation counts! If you would like to purchase toys yourself, we are also taking toy donations, though they must be new.

2. Spread the Word! Share our campaign on social media, with friends, family, and colleagues. Help us reach more people and make a larger impact!

THANK YOU!

Your support is a gift in itself, and we are deeply grateful for your ongoing kindness. We are so thankful for this community that keeps showing up! Together, we can make this holiday season a magical and unforgettable time for families who may otherwise go without. Your generosity will create moments of joy, warmth, and love for those facing challenges this holiday season.

Join us in bringing holiday cheer to those who need it most. Thank you for considering donating, sharing this campaign, and helping us make a positive difference in the lives of children and families in our community.

You are a beacon of hope and joy!

With heartfelt appreciation,

Above and Beyond