At Vineyard House’s annual Water Tasting fundraiser, guests were immediately reminded of what was at stake as they drove in to the gala Thursday evening. All along the driveway were signs displaying quotes from Islanders about how Vineyard House had saved their lives.
The organization is the Island’s only sober living center, providing affordable housing and support for those in the early stages of recovery. Founded in 1997, the Vineyard House community is made up of three houses and an administrative building in Vineyard Haven.
The Water Tasting event is the main fundraiser of the year for Vineyard House. Fundraising covers 70 per cent of the organization’s annual program costs.
Jenn Vogel, executive director of Vineyard House, said that addiction affects everyone in a community.
“I don’t think that there’s anybody here who doesn’t have somebody in their lives, somebody they know or a loved one, that hasn’t been impacted by substance use disorder,” Ms. Vogel said.
Members of the Vineyard House community shared their stories, including Steve Lawrence, who lived at the Vineyard House for a time and now works for the organization as the men’s house manager.
“I’ve watched people come in that house that were as far down the scale as you possibly want to go,” Mr. Lawrence said.
He said that recovery is a difficult process but thanks to the people at Vineyard House no one has to got through it alone. Mr. Lawrence has made friends, he said, that he will love until the end of time.
“The men and women that suffer from this are so much more than [addicts],” Mr. Lawrence said. “Too many times we forget what these people are capable of and who they truly are.”
Heather Seger, executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, spoke about how alcoholism had impacted her family, and how Vineyard House offered a healthy path forward.
“I found a community of support that not only embraced me but taught me to recognize that alcoholism truly is a family disease that requires everyone in the family to do their part to recover,” Ms. Seger said.
Clarence (Trip) Barnes, co-founder of the Vineyard House, said that while the organization is helping people recover, so many don’t get that opportunity.
“Three out of a hundred are going to get better and stay better,” Mr. Barnes said. “It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do... We have to keep this place alive because it’s doing some good.”
For more information, visit vineyardhouse.org.
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