Teen Challenge Canada gives a voice back to those with addictions

Annually, Teen Challenge Canada is continuing to support hundreds of individuals struggling with the mental and physical obstacles that come with an alcohol or substance addiction.

“The Teen Challenge yearlong program is intensive, but it works for men and women with entrenched addictions willing to embrace the hard work of personal addiction recovery. Our programs are truly making a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities across Canada,” says the Teen Challenge Canada 2021 Impact Report.

Through its core 12-month, 3-phase program, clients are provided with an Accredited Addiction Counselor, who helps those work to cope with pain, learn healthy habits as well as other skills needed to be reoriented into the community as sustainable and strong individuals.

After the 12-month program is completed, graduates may have an opportunity to work alongside Teen Challenge staff and others in the program and may have a further opportunity to become staff members themselves as they help give back to the program that helped save their lives.

Take Jenna Willman for example, a graduate of the Teen Challenge Canada program in 2019.

Her addiction to fentanyl and heroin led her to homelessness before her father and family finally gave her the ultimatum to choose Teen Challenge or to stop calling them for support. She entered the program in 2018 with no intention of completing it in its entirety yet graduated 12 months later. Four years later, those who are unaware of Jenna’s history with addiction would never guess how much she has accomplished.

“It is more than a warm bed and three-square meals a day. Teen Challenge staff create an emotionally safe place, in a faith-based environment and that is crucial for those in addiction,” says Jenna, “In my opinion, you cannot find long-lasting freedom from addiction without involving Christ. I believe most other treatment methods give people Band-Aids and short-term solutions.”

Jenna got married in 2020 and is now studying to become a social worker.

How can I help Teen Challenge Canada support more of the community and lead to the success of even more graduates?

Teen Challenge Canada depends completely on the generosity of the community to fund its programs and receives no ongoing funding from the Canadian government. One of the major fundraising initiatives that Teen Challenge Canada utilizes is the vehicle donation program.

By donating a car, minivan, or truck, funds raised support the nine Teen Challenge Canada centres located across the country, including the new Eastern Ontario Men’s Centre which recently opened in Renfrew, ON in 2022.

Do you have a vehicle you don’t want or need?

Consider donating it to Teen Challenge Canada to support those recovering from addiction in your community. It doesn’t matter if it works or not, vehicle donation pickup is available and is fast and free. Donated vehicles receive a fair market tax receipt with a $600 minimum guaranteed!

If your old vehicle is ready to go to help change a life, go to www.donateyourcar.ca or call 1 (800) 856-8902.

To learn more about the ministry of Teen Challenge Canada, go to www.teenchallenge.ca