Statewide initiative launched to give back to those in recovery
Dec 4, 2024, 11:54 AM | Updated: Dec 5, 2024, 10:59 am
SALT LAKE CITY — This holiday season, North Star Recovery & Wellness is leading a statewide initiative to give back to those in recovery with a holiday clothing drive.
The effort invites community members across Utah to donate new or gently used clothing to support individuals in local recovery programs, helping those who are rebuilding their lives after struggling with addiction and mental health challenges.
“We’re all tackling the same thing, and everyone needs support,” says Parker Paulsen of North Star Recovery & Wellness. “This clothing drive is about the community coming together.”
One of the participants in this effort is Troy Carlton, a staff member at The Other Side Academy, who knows firsthand the importance of community support in the recovery journey. “I was broken. I needed some help. I couldn’t figure out how to do things for myself,” Carlton shares, reflecting on his own struggles before becoming a staff member.
For four years, Carlton was a student at The Other Side Academy, a program that offers an alternative to long-term incarceration. He adds, “I came here with a sentence hanging over my head, so if I left, I knew where I was going back to prison.”
