The Magdalen House and its partner, Trader Joe’s, have been named finalists in two categories for D CEO’s seventh annual Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards. The Community team led by Chief Community Officer, Kady Younkman, has been nominated for Nonprofit Team of the Year and Trader Joe’s for In-Kind Service Supporter in their role in providing food donations to the clients and community of The Magdalen House.

Nonprofit Team of the Year | Community Team, The Magdalen House

When a person establishes a foundation of recovery, part of their journey includes learning to give back, be of service to others, and become a guide for the next person struggling with alcoholism. What makes The Magdalen House so unique is the lasting community and abundance of service opportunities we offer to those who have (or have not) gone through our programs. These volunteer opportunities impact the women and men who are served, and also benefit those who are serving. For someone in recovery from alcoholism, being of service helps strengthen their own recovery. The Volunteer and Community team facilitate these symbiotic relationships in the recovery community, allowing more newly sober people to get help, and encouraging recovered individuals to keep coming back to support their sobriety and overall health.

For someone in recovery from alcoholism, being of service helps strengthen their own recovery. The Volunteer and Community team facilitate these symbiotic relationships in the recovery community, allowing more newly sober people to get help, and encouraging recovered individuals to keep coming back to support their sobriety and overall health.

Under the leadership of Kady Younkman, the Volunteer and Community team members solicit, schedule, train, manage, and steward volunteers. In 2023, 648 unduplicated volunteers gave 26,327 hours of their time, our highest volunteer hour count to date. Of those volunteers, 395 were new in 2023, 38% more than the total new volunteer count in 2022. Using the dollar value of a volunteer hour in 2023, volunteer hours last year were worth $826,000. The volunteers and Volunteer program team save our agency hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, which enables donated dollars to make an even bigger impact on clients in our direct-service programs.

…volunteer hours last year were worth $826,000. The volunteers and Volunteer program team save our agency hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, which enables donated dollars to make an even bigger impact on clients in our direct-service programs.

Of the 648 unduplicated volunteers that donated their time, 36% of them volunteered for at least five or more shifts, accounting for 94% of the total hours donated throughout the year. In that same time, the Community program has continued to grow and improve its fellowship opportunities, serving 1,186 unduplicated recovery meeting attendees, 7,235 duplicated attendees, and 1,169 family support attendees in 2023.

In-Kind Service Supporter | Trader Joe’s, Lower Greenville

As part of their Neighborhood Shares program, Trader Joe’s Manager, John Rodriguez, and the entire team at the Lower Greenville location has been a gracious partner of The Magdalen House, donating fresh groceries and produce valued at over $13,000 a month to the First Step program clients and Community every Sunday since 2014. In support of opening our Men’s program in January 2024, Trader Joe’s has now added a second donation of the same size every week, making their annual donation projected to surpass $320,000.

In support of opening our Men’s program in January 2024, Trader Joe’s has now added a second donation of the same size every week, making their annual donation projected to surpass $320,000.

The gifts that Trader Joe’s offers our programs does not stop with just food. With the grocery donation, The Magdalen House is able to offer six dedicated volunteer positions to the community each week. In 2023, 74 unduplicated individuals donated 493 hours for grocery pick up and sorting, helping sustain their recovery and grow our community.

With the grocery donation, The Magdalen House is able to offer six dedicated volunteer positions to the community each week. In 2023, 74 unduplicated individuals donated 493 hours for grocery pick up and sorting, helping sustain their recovery and grow our community.

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