In May, the Associate Board organized a spring drive to support mothers and caregivers in recovery, collecting baby essentials, books, and art supplies. Volunteer Tonja Pastorelle, Haymarket’s 2024 Volunteer of the Year, donated 95 baskets to women in the Pregnant and Postpartum Women’s program. She organized the basket supply drive with other women from the Elmhurst community. These donations provided critical supplies and a morale boost to women balancing recovery with the challenges of new motherhood.
For Father’s Day, Haymarket Center hosted a special event for fathers living in the Men’s Recovery Homes. Fathers in recovery engaged in staff-led conversations on parenting. Dr. Kenyata Fletcher shared how a father’s presence can shape a child’s life. Creating traditions through everyday actions like helping with homework, sharing meals, or showing up for sports and school events helps build a sense of continuity and belonging for children. The day’s conversations prompted heartfelt reflections from those in attendance. These stories underscore the real and lasting impact of consistently showing up for your children with care and reflect the power of recovery to restore family bonds.
The Fatherhood and PPW programs are part of Haymarket’s broader commitment to helping patients rebuild trust and reclaim their family roles after substance use. This commitment has deep roots; Haymarket was founded in 1975 as Chicago’s first 24-hour walk-in detoxification center and recovery home for homeless men struggling with substance use challenges. Today, the men’s recovery home serves approximately 132 individuals each year.