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As we look forward to 2021, we also look back on 2020 and the formidable challenges we have all been forced to face. In spite of those challenges we can't help but conclude that our fledgling non-profit exceeded all of our expectations. Led by a strong board, we were able to pivot and rethink the best way to reach our LITT family and support the community during this difficult time. What an incredible year of growth, outreach, and support we have had. We've touched lives, helped parents and families navigate the trenches of addiction, supported like-minded organizations that complement our own mission, and we've found ourselves becoming part of a dynamic extended community of warriors fighting this disease on every level.
Because of the outstanding generosity of the community, both privately and corporately, Love in The Trenches has been able to support:
Having started with a single support group we have now increased that to four groups and look forward to initiating new groups this year.
*Support Group for parents of those who suffer from a substance use disorder (actively and in recovery).
*Grief Group for parents who have lost a child to this disease (currently opening our second of these groups)
*Grief Group for siblings who have lost a sibling to this disease
Our Speaker Series was put on hold in the early days of Covid but we have since resumed via Zoom. We kicked off 2021 with an open-to-the-public Zoom meeting, The Science of Addiction, featuring Justin McMillin and Vechi Mutum from Tree House Recovery of Costa Mesa California. Tree House Recovery has developed a pioneering a uniquely holistic mind/body-centered approach to recovery that integrates the science of recovery. https://treehouserecovery.com/emotional-flatlining-how-to-deal-with-anhedonia-2/
We are thrilled to have hosted these events in 2020:
* Narcan training in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Health, Center for Harm Reduction Services
*Travis Rieder, author of In Pain--A Bioethicist's Personal Struggle with Opioids
*Farlow Blakeslee on Strategies for Self-Care in Families Dealing with Addiction.
* Writer Jennie Burke, author of numerous articles, including in The New York Times and Huffington Post, reflecting on her experience with the suffering and loss of her brother to opioids in the midst of the Covid Pandemic. https://therumpus.net/2020/07/voices-on-addiction-primary-source/
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Kelly Gill and Shawn Nocher have had the opportunity to spread the mission of Love in The Trenches throughout the year. They were selected to be part of the She Inspires Campaign and recognized as one of five outstanding non-profit leaders in the community. They also appeared together on WMAR Midday Maryland. Kelly was part of a panel on Drug Addiction at Notre Dame University and Shawn was a speaker/discussion leader at Soul Talk as part of Women's Daily Post. Kelly had the privilege of telling her personal story at a special Stoop Stories presentation.
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LITT is now licensed to distribute and conduct free Naloxone Training for reversing overdose and recently donated over fifty Narcan kits to the nursing students at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Love in The Trenches is wishing you a peaceful 2021 and we continue to welcome your support in the upcoming year. We are erasing the shame, supporting families and spreading the love.
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