Red tulips rising at Monarch Meadow house in Claridon Township hold special meaning for the flower’s namesake nonprofit public charity that continues to grow and bloom.
Red tulips rising at Monarch Meadow house in Claridon Township hold special meaning for the flower’s namesake nonprofit public charity that continues to grow and bloom.
“Things are popping up as usual,” said Dianne Kellogg, board treasurer for The Red Tulip Project, which provides recovery housing for women in Geauga County and works to raise community awareness concerning addiction and available services.
Kellogg said the investment the community has made in The Red Tulip Project is making a real difference in the lives of women in recovery.
“Yes, we built a beautiful home in Monarch Meadow, (but) beyond that, we have seen so much in the lives touched and our own enrichment through the journey to date,” Kellogg said. “Geauga is generous and we would never have seen progress and been able to envision possibilities without so much help from service organizations, corporations, family foundations and individuals. They are willing to take a calculated risk on new ventures.”
New Bulbs Planted
Two Chardon High School seniors have dedicated lengthy volunteer time toward The Red Tulip Project.
To earn her Girl Scout Gold Award, Katherine Giza — who, upon graduation, will be majoring in exercise science at Miami of Ohio University and participating in the U.S. Air Force ROTC program — finished and furnished a portion of the recovery home’s basement, creating a dual meeting and fitness area.
Lexie Corrigan, in Rob Mizen’s Actively Caring for People course, initiated an anti-drug, anti-alcohol and anti-vaping campaign in mid-February with the sale of $5 Teddy bears adorned with “Start the Talk: The Dangers of Drugs and Alcohol” pamphlets.
Corrigan has been volunteering for The Red Tulip Project since 2017. Having lost her mother to a drug overdose, the project’s mission of hope means a great deal to her.
“Losing my mom was a pretty big change in my life,” Corrigan said. “After she passed away, my grandma wanted to do something for her and helped on the committee for the pasta dinners. I decided to help her out and volunteer so I could help others who need it.”
She started out serving and cleaning at the largest fundraiser of the year, Pasta for a Purpose. This year, she was asked to create something to get the message out to kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
“I decided to have small Teddy bears with candy and a pamphlet attached explaining about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and sold them to parents, kids and teachers,” Corrigan said.
She raised about $250 and donated to “Jeremy’s Kids”— a fundraiser that goes toward Geauga County Job and Family Services for families in need over the holidays.
“I have had a great experience these past few years being able to help out the community and plan to keep volunteering as years go on,” Corrigan said.
Giza became affiliated with the recovery home when her mother, Kristy Mowry, became The Red Tulip Project’s director in August 2019.
In the past eight months, she worked to coordinate and help finish a portion of their basement to make it into a multi-purpose, 1,300-square-foot section of the basement used for recovery meetings, family visitations and exercise.
“I believe it’s important to educate the community about a supportive and safe level 2 home environment for persons struggling with addiction,” Giza said. “People in recovery have a better chance of maintaining their sobriety when in an encouraging atmosphere with people that can relate to their struggles.”
Staff and tenants have expressed much appreciation, she said.
“This weekend, they are having a celebration for a tenant who is moving on to independent living and it is taking place in the new space,” Giza said.
“The room is spacious and beautiful, an inviting atmosphere for lounging, exercising, meetings, visitation, celebrations and studying,” Mowry added. “(Giza) raised over $10,000 during the pandemic, which was challenging.”
Healthy Harvest
Kara Goergen is a former tenant coordinating a recovery garden at Monarch Meadow, which grows vegetables, herbs and edible flowers for the home and other community organizations.
A number of Monarch Meadow tenants have moved on to independent living and are working and/or continuing their education.
Some have earned certifications in peer support counseling.
Spectrum News 1 stopped by the home in April to interview The Red Tulip Project alumnus who began growing produce while staying at Monarch Meadow and donating much of the produce to local shelters and others in need.
Tending to the spacious garden behind the home is therapeutic for tenants, helping them continue their recovery from addiction and making the project a passionate one for Goergen.
“It was a vision that came to life that really meant everything to me because even though I was starting over and I didn’t have much, I had more than a lot of other people do,” she said during the Spectrum interview. “So, to be able to give back to basically a demographic of people where I’ve also been in that situation and know how important it is to have help for other people, it really meant everything to me.”
Cultivating the Soil
Monarch Meadow has provided many opportunities for its female tenants.
“We are excited to be able to provide outreach services,” said Mowry, a licensed social worker with 30 years of experience.
Outreach programs include a collaboration with Horizons Christian Assembly Church in Middlefield for a weekly Life Recovery meeting, a Women’s Wellness and Recovery Program in conjunction with University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center and the Geauga Family YMCA, Red Tulip Beyond — which continues support for women after they have moved out of the house — and peer support, social interaction and the recovery garden for current tenants.
Red Tulip Beyond is peer-to-peer support for women who are leaving Monarch Meadow and would like aftercare support or for women who are new to sobriety and need peer guidance, but do not reside at the sober home, Mowry said, adding Life Recovery is a co-ed, open, 12-step meeting in partnership with the church on Friday nights and Women’s Wellness and Recovery is a closed support group for women focusing on health, wellness, nutrition and exercise along with a Life Recovery 12-step meeting.
The spring session is almost over with another one beginning in the fall, she said.
“It has been very exciting to see the growth and improvement in these women when they live in a positive, safe and supportive environment amongst peers who can empathize with their struggles and give a sense of hope,” Mowry said.
She said several women have transitioned to independent living from Monarch Meadow and are wonderful, productive, sober community members. Current tenants are successfully employed and reaching their financial goals, and everyone who lives at Monarch Meadows volunteers in the greater community, as well as the recovery community.
Sunlight on the Horizon
The Red Tulip Project has learned it takes a community to keep growing.
“Our volunteers continue to shine a light and reach out,” Kellogg said, adding their staff is amazing.
“Most start-ups need a little luck and ours came in the form of skilled women, some with credentials and some with lived experience, both knowing what is possible,” Kellogg said. “In the past 21 months, we have impacted the lives of more than 30 individuals.”
The sober house is once again filled to capacity.
Tulip project board President Laura Christian said future plans include expanding their garden and exploring more avenues of funding due to the uncertainty surrounding government funding as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kellogg said project organizers have dedicated their hearts and minds on how to best meet the growing opioid epidemic.
“But, I would be lying if I said knowledge was the driving force,” Kellogg said. “Our hearts were broken by the losses we and families we knew had experienced. Those emotions drove us and still fuel our commitment. Our community made action possible.
“We are continuously investigating best practices and trainings,” she added. “We received certification from Ohio Recovery Housing last year, which makes us in compliance with the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services, Quality Housing Standards and eligible for certain funding. However, we will forever be in fundraising mode.”
Kellogg said the word “grateful” seems inadequate to describe how she and Christian feel about the community’s support and generosity, as well as the project’s staff and board of directors.
“But thank you all for what everyone has done,” Kellogg said.
The Red Tulip Project’s fifth annual Pasta with a Purpose fundraiser will be held Sept. 17 at St. Mary’s Church banquet hall in Chardon with carry out available and an online auction. Volunteers are needed.
