Thankful for Community & Recovery

SAN DIEGO — Every year the ECS community comes together to give thanks and celebrate the recovery journeys of our clients with a Thanksgiving Recovery Lunch.

The event was held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Volunteers from parishes, schools, and organizations across San Diego showed up to serve the food, facilitate activities, and enjoy the afternoon with ECS clients from Central East Regional Recovery Center (CERRC), Uptown Safe Haven (UTSH), Community Harm Reduction Team (C-HRT) Safe Haven, and ACCORD. Guests enjoyed an array of appetizers, Italian soda made by volunteers from The Bishop’s School, and a classic Thanksgiving meal, complete with pumpkin pie for dessert.

Summer Kahoonei, the program coordinator for CERRC, commented on the importance of bringing Thanksgiving to ECS clients. “My favorite part about this event is being able to look at some of the clients come in and share Thanksgiving,” she said. “A lot of them won’t have that kind of situation with their own family members so being able to still see that there are places that help out with this kind of stuff makes me really happy to see.”

The Thanksgiving theme went far beyond just the food. Each table was decorated with artwork made by CERRC clients which featured messages of gratitude; from family to sobriety to music, the art created an atmosphere of optimism. The hopeful energy was also felt through a communal art piece — the Gratitude Tree. The project, which was run by volunteers from Christ Church Day School, allowed any guest or volunteer to write what they were thankful for on one of the tree’s many paper leaves.

The afternoon closed with the Chip Ceremony. Those in recovery were invited to stand and receive a special chip indicating their recovery time. Whether someone was 20 years clean or 20 days clean, the room was filled with applause and celebration for every individual.

Before the Chip Ceremony, Embrie Tapia, ECS’ director of behavioral health services stated, “This is a really special time that we get to come together and celebrate recovery and also acknowledge how important behavioral health services are to our community.”

The significance of the event was felt by the guests, too. Tiana, a current UTSH resident remarked, “It makes me feel important that I’m welcomed in a group of people that are helping me reenter into society.”

Thank you to Blue Shield California Promise Health Plan for making this event possible and to all of the wonderful volunteers whose support and care created a beautiful display of community.

Visit ecscalifornia.org to learn more about ECS’ behavioral health services and ways to get involved.

ECS Head Start Grandparents’ Breakfast

Grandparents craft with their grandchildren at the Head Start Grandparents' Breakfast. September 2024.

SAN DIEGO — Summer break has come to an end, but the fun continues with activities like the ECS Head Start Grandparents Breakfast. Held at the new ECS Family Engagement Center (FEC), over 24 families enjoyed breakfast and activities together, creating memories for grandparents and their grandchildren.

ECS was joined by St. Paul’s PACE staff and Christ Church Day School student volunteers to bring the event together. St. Paul’s PACE delivered presentations on “What is PACE?”, educating grandparents on the resources available through the PACE program, and tips on preventing a fall.

ECS Head Start staff smile at a fun-filled event. September 2024.

The Christ Church Day School student volunteers helped serve the breakfast and assisted with clean up. They also facilitated a picture frame making station and led a “make your own” stress ball activity.

The Head Start Grandparents’ Breakfast was a morning of family and community fun. ECS is grateful for the help from community partners like St. Paul’s PACE and the Christ Church Day School in bringing the day together.

For more information about ECS Head Start visit www.ecscalifornia.org/head-start-and-early-head-start.

Students enjoy activities with their family and friends. September 2024.

Families spend quality time together at the Grandparents' Breakfast. September 2024.

Blossoming in Partnership

Students from The Bishop’s School and St. John’s Head Start show off their harvest. August 2024.

ECS Head Start and The Bishop’s School continue to foster their relationship, especially through gardening. Tuesday morning, five students from The Bishop’s School joined The Rev. Roger Haenke from St. John's Episcopal Church in a few activities with St. John’s Head Start students.

The students bonded as they planted new vegetables and herbs and collected ripe veggies such as squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes, which they planted together in April.

Afterward, The Bishop's School students helped move backpacks stuffed with donated school supplies from the parish to the Head Start offices. These donations ensure that students have the supplies they need to have the best school year possible.

We appreciate The Bishop’s School students for their generosity and friendship toward ECS Head Start students.

Visit the Head Start page to learn about the program and how ECS works to inspire children to blossom.

A Head Start student holding a squash the students planted together in the spring. August 2024.

Head Start students learn about gardening and bond with older students from The Bishop’s School. August 2024.

Behavioral Health Recovery Luncheon

ECS volunteers and board members serve the clients a tasty meal. November 2023.

SAN DIEGO – Last week, clients from ECS CERRC, ACCORD, and our two Safe Havens (Uptown and C-HRT), alongside government representatives, ECS staff, board members, and volunteers, gathered at St. Mark's Episcopal Church for a Thanksgiving Lunch dedicated to recovery.

ECS CERRC, ACCORD, and Safe Haven clients enjoy the recovery luncheon. November 2023.

Throughout the event, participants engaged in meaningful conversations, shared stories of triumph, and fostered new connections within our recovery community—all while enjoying a delightful Thanksgiving meal.

A heartfelt thank you is extended to every participant, volunteer, and supporter whose contributions played a vital role in making this event a success. Your presence and enthusiasm have left a lasting impact, serving as a powerful reminder that the journey to recovery is not a solitary one but a collective achievement.