Joe's Counseling Center needs your help!

Dear Friends,

I need your help to make my late husband, Joe Orlando’s dream of providing mental health and substance abuse services available to the vastly underserved community of Camden, New Jersey.

Joe spent many years as a part of The Work Group, an incredible non-profit in Camden that provides at-risk youth a home to acquire a high school diploma, workforce readiness, life skills, and so much more. Joe fell in love with the young people at The Work Group and understood the struggles, so many of them carried. All of the youth served by The Work Group are out of school and, by federal definition, economically disadvantaged. Many are young people aging out of the foster care system, some are parents, and about a third have involvement with the justice system. The needs and challenges faced by youth of The Work Group include inadequate housing and homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, gang involvement, lack of medical care, negative peer groups, family dysfunction, and a range of mental health issues. 

Joe understood well the critical importance of addressing mental health and substance abuse issues, he often would bring in his own therapist to help address the complicated and serious hurdles that can only be helped with professional support.

Upon his passing, funeral donations enabled the creation of “Joe’s Place,” a licensed mental health and substance use center that provides a safe, supportive home for youth of The Work Group to access individual counseling, and group counseling, substance use treatment, and, if needed, psychiatric care. Anyone who wants counseling services can access them regardless of their ability to pay. No one is ever turned away. 

Today Joe’s Place (click name for more details) is a fully self-sustaining counseling center that serves over 100 adolescents and adults a year. However, it has outgrown its tiny space, and there is a waitlist of people who want help.

We now have the opportunity to purchase the church next door. The purchase of this 7,000-square-foot building would allow for the expansion of Joe’s Place to increase individual and group counseling, add bilingual services, and have dedicated space for ancillary well-being services such as meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness practices. It also has a large gathering room with a full kitchen that could house events and celebrations.

We have proven the model works and is in demand. We need your help, large or small, and fast so we have a shot to get this building BEFORE it goes on the market. I am determined to make this happen, as I have seen firsthand the incredible impact on many lives & how leaders of TWG have done the hard work to build a self-sustaining model. It is a dream come true to have an entire building to house Joe’s Place! (Below you can read some of the personal stories of how Joe's Place makes an impact).

How can you help? A donation of any size (really every bit helps) for this family & friends flash round. And you can also ask if your place of work would consider a corporate donation. For donations over $5K or corporate donations, please contact Lori Godorov, Executive Director of The Work Group (Pennsauken NJ), directly by clicking HERE. Our full raise is for $300K and we are open to naming rights, partnerships, and whatever can make this dream come true. Please know that small personal donations are just as appreciated. Every bit gets us closer.

It means the world to me to see Joe’s dream come to fruition in this way. I am eternally grateful to everyone who has helped make Joe’s Place possible!

Tamlyn

Stories:

I thought about Joe yesterday morning as I walked a student over to Joe‘s place for counseling. It is truly such an incredible blessing having that for our students! A student from 2007 stopped by last week just to say hi. He shared with me that he’s been in a really bad headspace going through a divorce and recently losing his mom. I told him about Joe’s place. He did not know of Joe’s passing. We talked about him seeing Casey, our Clinical Director. He sat in my office and cried. He said he feels like once again Joe was taking care of him. He said he was feeling like he was in a dark place and didn’t know what to do. He decided to stop by TWG and there was a gift from Mr. Joe. There are so many stories and so many ways that Joe’s presence is at TWG. I wish you could share in all of them! Joe’s place is such an incredible blessing in so many ways! Thank you for all your love and support and helping to make Joe’s place a reality. Joe’s love for people and desire to help others lives on every single day at TWG! -Lori