November Newsletter

Save The Date! (corrected to 12/14)

This is a free community celebration for our participants, partners, and volunteers. Click below to learn more and register today. Keep an eye out for more details in the coming weeks!

When SNAP Benefits End, Community Steps In

In light of the cuts to SNAP benefits, we are collecting non-perishable foods for our participants. Over the last two weeks, we've surveyed around 100 of our participants and about 50% of them confirmed they will be impacted by these cuts.

Some of them don’t have transportation, some have bicycles, but many of them are not housed and don’t have reliable consistent shelter (meaning in and out of friends houses or an emergency shelter).

To contribute to this effort, you can:

• Drop off nonperishable donations Monday-Friday. Click here for our address. If you need to coordinate outside of regular 9-5 business hours just call or text us and we can work it out.
• Donate through our food fundraising campaign
• Purchase items off of our Amazon Wishlist.

Also note: pull tabs on cans are preferred but not required. Click here to download our flyer if you want to hang some up in your workplace.

Whimisgoth Night Market Fundraiser: Creativity with a Cause

Whimisgoth Night Market is a monthly Cleveland-based event showcasing local artists with a nostalgic and alternative vibe. Each month, a mutual aid organization is selected to benefit from the market’s proceeds.

On October 18th, the market supported Thrive for Change, raising funds to expand access to harm reduction resources.

A huge thank-you to the volunteers who led the event without staff, they greeted every guest, handed out harm reduction supplies, provided education and created an unforgettable night, showing the true power of community coming together for a cause.

Impact in Action: Save-A-Life & Wagon 9.25

Wagon outreach has been an incredible way to connect directly with our community and get Narcan into the hands of people who might not otherwise visit our office.

On Save A Life Day, we rolled our wagons up and down Detroit Ave, stopping at local businesses and chatting with people along the way. An Uber driver, a Peer Supporter, and even an RTA bus stopped for Narcan. Soon, everyone wanted their own kit!

This kind of outreach gives us real time to connect, no pressure, just conversation. We’re excited to keep it rolling!

Looking Back on Summer 2025 Outreach: Impact and Connections

This summer, Thrive for Change continued our mission to promote health, hope, and healing in our community. Thanks to our volunteers, partners, and supporters, we were able to make a real difference in the lives of people at risk of overdose.

Here’s a look at what we accomplished together this season:

• 4,000 naloxone kits distributed and 1,000 people trained for the first time on how to save a life
• 10,000 fentanyl testing strips distributed to help keep our community safer
• 50 overdose deaths prevented through naloxone from our program
• 600 hot meals served to community members in need
• 22,000 sterile syringes distributed and used ones safely collected

Thank you for helping us save lives and support those who need it most. Together, we’re making an impact that matters.

Volunteer Highlight - Molly M.

We wouldn’t be where we are without our dedicated volunteers, and we want to recognize their invaluable contributions.

Molly began volunteering with us in March 2025, joining our Kit Building Days every other Friday. One day, she mentioned wanting to step outside her comfort zone and try volunteering at an outreach event. Pictured to the right is Molly at our MGK Day event in August and she did amazing! She started by holding up a sign, observed an intake process (an electronic form to track supplies a person needs), and then confidently began completing intakes on her own. Molly always goes above and beyond, and we’re so thankful to have her as part of the Thrive for Change team.

Outside of volunteering, Molly enjoys writing. She’s currently working on a novel and spending time with her husband and six cats. When asked why she volunteers with Thrive for Change, she said, “I think the no-strings-attached compassion to the community is what we all need.”

Join Us in Giving Thanks: Volunteer This Holiday!

Hi friends,

With the holiday season coming up and some of our staff traveling, we’d love your help! Join us on Wednesday, November 26th:

• Outreach at E. 81st Deli: 11:00am–2:00pm
• Open Service Hours at our Cleveland office: Wednesday, 2:00pm–6:00pm (moved from Thursday 11/27 for Thanksgiving)

This year, we’re sharing a meal that looks a little different, serving dishes not typically found on Thanksgiving tables to keep the day welcoming and inclusive for everyone.

If you’d like to help out, please contact Lish by email or text at your earliest convenience. Your support helps us share food, supplies, and care with our community this season.