To express the appreciation we have for our clients, in a segment we call The Small Business Spotlight, Abraxas Business Communications Solutions highlights one of the organizations that we have the privilege of calling our customer.
Right now the Spotlight is on…..
Ezra's Hope: Shining Light in a Dark Place
Philadelphia, PA
March 2023
Ezra’s Hope is a nonprofit organization committed to helping families that have been touched by the devastating effects of substance addiction. Established in September of 2017 by mother and daughter team, Heather and Cynthia Ritter, Ezra’s Hope began as a result of the tragic and unexpected passing of the Heather’s significant other after he lost his battle with drug addiction. When he passed away earlier that month, he not only left her and the couple's two young daughters behind, but as Heather put it, they were left to 'pick up the pieces'.
His death created an irreversible void in their lives. Heather immediately found herself struggling with expenses and trying to make ends meet - a challenge which only exacerbated her already fragile state of mind as she was left alone trying to figure out how to care for her young girls who were only a month old and five years old at the time. "When he passed away, there was no help available for people like me left behind to hold things together." Heather said. From Heather’s tragedy Ezra’s Hope was born. Its main purpose was to help others, who, like the Heather, their lives were forever changed by a family member's addiction. Ezra’s Hope was founded on the principles that it would dedicate itself to spread awareness about addiction while offering hope through education, empowerment and recovery to those left behind because of addiction - core principles of the organization's mission.
Ezra’s Hope has assisted families in a number of ways, having done everything from sending care packages and gift cards to gathering clothing, food, furniture, and other necessities for families in need. Cindy recalls one such family they helped. During their first year, they were referred a 52 year-old grandmother who had just taken custody of her grandchildren after the kids' mom - who was an addict - abandoned them. Within one day, Ezra’s Hope managed to gather many supplies for this grandmother in need including diapers, baby clothing, food, furniture, and even help pay some utility bills. It was a feat Cindy still proudly looks back on.
Other ways Ezra’s Hope helps families affected by addiction are through care packages. These packages usually contain pictures drawn by children, inspirational notes, and a necklace or keychain with a charm that says "Hope".
To help offset costs, Ezra’s Hope relies on donations, volunteers and fundraisers whenever possible. For the mother/daughter duo, the most memorable fundraising event was their Cinco D'mamma - not your granny's bingo held in May of 2018. "It was a very positive experience," recalled. "It was really well received. There were about 100 people in attendance."
Unfortunately, since the Covid-19 pandemic, they have been unable to manage organizing any new events. One problem, Cindy says, is that manpower has been impossible to find and donations have stopped coming in.
Drug addiction has been plaguing the nation for entirely too long. Each year an increasing number people lose their battles with addiction. The CDC reported in 2020 that 40.3 million people nationwide over the age of 12 had some kind of substance abuse disorder and that there were 106,699 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2021. Victims of the drug epidemic are more than a mere statistic. They are daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles - they are people we know whose life has been cut short leaving those left behind to 'pick up the pieces.
"Most available resources are for the addict them self, not their families", Heather said. This year, both mother and daughter hope that with the Covid-19 pandemic in the rearview mirror, Ezra’s Hope can set its sights on the future and get back to helping families touched by addiction by holding more fundraisers, creating better care packages, receiving more donations, getting more exposure, and casting a wider reach nationwide to incite greater awareness of the problem. Heather says that she takes everything one day at a time and sometimes minute by minute, but she is always praying that less people will be affected by addiction. "That's all you can do. Addiction sucks!"
Connect with Ezras's Hope on Facebook, Inastagram, and Linkedin. For more information on how you can help, visit www.ezrashope.org
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