GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Guiding Light recovery program held its annual Community Thanksgiving Meal on Nov. 18, and plans to hold a similar event next month.
The Guiding Light Mission is a Christian nonprofit organization that relies on community donations. Nov. 28 is #GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement.
Guiding Light Executive Director Brian Elve spoke about it Monday on West Michigan's Morning News.
"And on Saturday, Dec. 16, we'll do it again," Elve said. "And we'll invite our community partners and the folks in the neighborhood to come on down to Guiding Light and have a meal. And just kind of get warm and, hopefully, experience some of that holiday cheer."
Guiding Light originally was focused on helping men, but it has added some recovery housing for women.
"Right now, we currently have two homes for women to continue their recovery journey with recovery housing, or what is called Sober Living. But we're hoping to open up a women's program here in early 2024. We're really excited about that," Elve said.
He said they have received many phone calls over the year from the families of people who need help, but Guiding Light has had to direct them to someone else. That would change with the addition of a women's program.
Elve said a question to ask someone is if alcohol or drugs are causing a problem in their life, or if they've had trouble quitting.
"If the answer is yes to that, because of the generosity of West Michigan our program has no cost for the men and women that partake in it. So, we want people who want to change their lives," Elve said. "And now live kind of under that bondage of what drugs and alcohol can put people under."
Guiding Light is located at 255 South Division Avenue, south of Cherry Street in Grand Rapids.
For more information about how you can donate or help, go to GuidingLightWorks.org