Only Positive Stories & Friends Grant Wishes

date December 16th, 2022 category Stories

Berlin, MD – Following an assembly at Worcester Preparatory School (WPS) highlighting the negative stigma surrounding recovering addicts, a group of students felt compelled to get involved and are now working to grant Christmas wishes to men participating in local recovery housing.
 
A few weeks ago, WPS hosted representatives from the Art League of Ocean City (ALOC) who presented “Stigma Highlighted: Portraits of Recovery”, an art exhibit addressing negativity towards individuals battling addiction. The project is designed to use artwork and personal stories to challenge misconceptions and negativity towards individuals battling addiction. The program is sponsored by the Giving Spirit Foundation, Worcester County Health Department, Worcester Goes Purple, Talbot Goes Purple and the ALOC.
 
During the assembly, Hope4Recovery Executive Director Brandon O’Brien spoke. O’Brien is a recovering addict who opened a recovery home, the Douglas K. Hamilton House. Following the assembly, Only Positive Stories founders Dylan and Hunter Simons, along with a group of friends felt inspired and wanted to get involved.
 
The students reached out to Worcester Goes Purple President, Debbie Smullen, to see how they could help, and decided to grant Christmas wishes to men in local recovery housing.
 
“Seeing past the stigma, and understanding that these are men who are trying to make their life better through recovery has prompted the boys and their classmates to help,” Smullen said. “Our goal is that everyone learns something in the process about stigma, kindness, giving back and making a difference. We hope this encourages younger men to participate and being active in giving back to the community.”
 
Only Positive Stories, founded by WPS Juniors Dylan and Hunter Simons, is a group of local youth who partner with local organizations that share the same goals in hoping to change a life, one person at a time.
For more information on Only Positive Stories, visit their website at www.OnlyPositiveStories.com, their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/onlypositivestories or Instagram @onlypositivestories.
 
Founded in 1970, WPS is a private, independent Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 School, located in Berlin, Maryland. Approximately 500 students attend from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. For more information about WPS, please visit www.worcesterprep.org or call 410.641.3575.

Article Author : worcesterprep

Posted On : 15 December 2022

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