YEAR END FUNDRAISER

Hello all, it is coming upon the end of another year and JFT has been doing amazing things for our Recovery Community and for our Veterans. We are starting our end of the year fundraising drive and are setting a goal of $50,000.00 Please help us achieve this goal. Please see the following letter from our executive director.

Hello Everyone,

I would like to begin by thanking everyone for your continued support to JFT Recovery and Veterans Support Services. 2021 was a productive season where JFT was able to give individuals the help and support they needed. However, 2021 came with its own challenges to JFT, the Veterans and the recovery community we serve. Overdoses and Veterans suicide were up to higher levels than other previous years. With the opioid epidemic and the pandemic taking its toll across the country, JFT was affected with an influx of individuals searching for assistance.

JFT has committed to provide services to Veterans by providing PTSD support, offering weekly food for over 40 Veterans weekly, and built a strong veterans coalition to bring together and coordinate resources. In the recovery community we continue to break down barriers for individuals to enter and remain in treatment services for those who struggle with addiction. JFT hosts multiple support groups to meet every individual’s pathway to recovery. We provide not only guidance but even basic needs to those who are struggling.

JFT continues to provide guidance and support to anyone who walks through our doors, calls, is at the hospital, is a police referral, a court referral and/or an individual that we meet at many of the outpatient facilities we partner with We work to help those seeking treatment find quality care and funding for treatment services and support individuals before during and after their treatment experience to maintain recovery and avoid relapse. JFT continues to fight stigma to build strong, safe communities by having a strong community presence. All our centers have coffee shops that are open 7 days a week, meetings are offered 7 days a week, we serve over 250 people without resources including food, clothing, and hygiene items and no one is ever turned away. JFT responds to and services to 7 hospitals in Cumberland and Dauphin Counties.

Currently we are coming back to the community to help us as we continue our mission. We have a goal of $50,000.00 to raise to help provide services into 2022. Anything you can do to come together with us and provide support will be greatly appreciated. Please check our Facebook page, like us and follow us for updates and things that you can give to help even if money is not an option at this time.

Thank you in advance for your continued support and commitment to our community. Together we can achieve a safer and healthier community.

Sincerely,

Steve Barndt

Here are some of the things we can always use:

• Any amount of money you can afford to help support our services and our centers.

• Non-perishable food items for the food pantry such as: Canned vegetables, canned fruits, pudding, applesauce, canned meats, sauces, soups, etc. Boxed items like pasta noodles, cereal, quick make meals, macaroni and cheese, cake mixes, cookie mixes, bread mixes, etc. Other things like chips, crackers, pretzels, cookies, microwave items, Juice, water, sugar, sugar substitute, peanut butter, jelly, tea bags, coffee, creamer, other drinks, and drink mixes, etc.

• Clothing and shoes – all sizes, all genders, coats, gloves, hats, scarves, warm blankets, quilts, sheets, towels, wash clothes, clothing should be gently used with no holes, stains and we do not take used underwear, bras, or socks. (We do however need packs of new underwear and socks for those that have none and are entering treatment).

• Hygiene items – shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, body spray, perfume, after shave, combs, brushes, tampons, pads, etc.

• Gift Cards – for grocery stores, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.

• Bus Passes

• Garden items for our new Veterans program – seeds, trowel, hoes, rakes, shovels, small aerators, shovels, planting tools, garden gloves, rototiller, soil, fertilizer, plant food, etc.

• Group items for our life skills, prevention classes and events – crayons, markers, coloring books, candy, pencils, pens, small toy prizes for youth, teens and young children, financial planners, shopping lists, to do lists, tablet paper, make-up, journals, colored pencils, construction paper, rulers, tape, glue, paints, poster board, pocket calendars, etc.

• Time – consider giving the gift of time we can always use more volunteers in our coffee shop and at events.