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Making an Impact on Tomorrow – Anderson House

Henkel’s Make an Impact on Tomorrow (MIT) program changes lives

Commitment People Bridgewater, NJ Jul 24, 2018

For the past ten years, Henkel employees at the Bridgewater site have helped to positively influence the lives of women recovering from the diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction at Anderson House, a Turning Point Program. Located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, Anderson House is an active residential program with comprehensive, holistic treatment for 14 women who live in the halfway house for four to six months. The program is guided by certified counsellors who provide vital resources for addiction recovery as well as support for families through education and counselling. Nutrition education is also an important aspect of recovery as it helps the women to regain their health and lead a wholesome lifestyle. More than 910 women have benefitted from treatment that has helped them to rebuild healthy minds, bodies and spirits.

With ongoing support from Henkel’s MIT program, Bridgewater employees are able to continue their volunteer efforts at the Anderson House. During Bridgewater’s Week of Caring, employees spruced up the outdoor garden and painted rooms.

With ongoing support from Henkel’s MIT program, Bridgewater employees are able to continue their volunteer efforts at the Anderson House. During Bridgewater’s Week of Caring, employees spruced up the outdoor garden and painted rooms.

Izumi Shiba was one of 15 Bridgewater employees who volunteered at the Anderson House to help with upkeep of the home.

Izumi Shiba was one of 15 Bridgewater employees who volunteered at the Anderson House to help with upkeep of the home.

Henkel Bridgewater employees have helped the Anderson House program for the past 10 of its 24 years.

The Development Director of Turning Point, Stacy Greene, remarks, “We are extremely grateful for the Henkel team who help us create a sustainable, safe and loving home for the women of Anderson House while they focus on their recovery.”

This program provides more than just a house to these women; it provides a home. Employees from Henkel have supported the upkeep of this welcoming and understanding environment by helping to sustain regular maintenance and improvement of the home. This upkeep includes painting rooms inside the residence, landscaping the yard and play areas for visits by the children of the residents, and helping them prepare the vegetable garden area.

Through the Make an Impact on Tomorrow (MIT) program, the Henkel grant funds programs for the residents in the Anderson House within the areas of family education, family counselling, and nutrition. Families are educated on their role in supporting recovery, and during family counselling they work to rebuild relationships, including between mothers and their children.

The MIT grant will also allow for the Anderson House to sustain a year of sessions and therapy that will help residents battle addiction and help families to understand the next steps. Additionally, the MIT program will help the women develop a healthy lifestyle by bringing in a nutritionist for classes teaching them how to prepare nutritious meals for themselves and the residents of the house.