March Newsletter

We're Expanding Our Team!

We're currently hiring for a full-time Harm Reduction Specialist to help Thrive for Change in our work to impact lives in Cuyahoga County and beyond.

Core responsibilities would include:

-Assist with planning and executing community outreach events in Cuyahoga County and Northeast Ohio.

-Provide overdose response training and distribute naloxone at outreach events.

-Fulfill and ship harm reduction supply orders by mail in a timely manner.

-Engage with program participants to assess and meet their needs.

-Maintain accurate inventory of harm reduction supplies and coordinate restocking.

-Support volunteers and collaborate with community partners.

Open Service Hours Move Outdoors Starting April 10th!

Every Thursday from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, we provide in-person harm reduction services in the neighborhood around our Cleveland office.

On these days, people can stop by to pick up:

• Naloxone
• Fentanyl Testing Strips
• Sterile Syringes (provided in partnership with The Centers)
• Various safer use kits for smoking, injection, and safe sex.

We also provide a hot meal and additional items on these days while supplies last.

Our address is 11002 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102 (outdoor services will be behind the office, down the hill and under canopies).

Kit Building Day and Community Clean Up

At our last Kit Building Day, we didn’t just assemble life-saving kits. We also kicked off a community clean-up! With winter behind us, we saw the need to clear litter and help keep our neighborhood safe and welcoming.

Volunteers stepped up with gloves and trash bags, making a difference while continuing the vital work of assembling safer use kits. We filled 6 large bags and this is just the start! We’re excited to add more clean-up efforts to our outreach.

Join us every other Friday from 12:00–4:30pm to help make a difference. Scroll down our volunteer page to check out our event calendar for more details.

PLEASE NOTE: KIT BUILDING DAY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 25th, 2025 HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIC PLANNING.

Committed to Care: Community Spirit Award Winners!

We’re thrilled to share that Thrive for Change won the Neighborhood Community Spirit Award from Northwest Neighborhoods! Nominated by a program member, this year’s theme, The Power of Partnership, celebrated collaboration in building strong, connected communities.

Northwest Neighborhoods supports affordable housing and community development in Cudell, Detroit Shoreway, and Edgewater, fostering diverse, thriving neighborhoods.

The award ceremony was held on February 27 at Gordon Green, and we’re honored to be recognized for the impact of our harm reduction work. Thank you for your support!

Support, Earn Rewards & Help the Planet: A New Way to Give Back!

We're partnering with TerraCycle to make recycling easier and more rewarding! You can start collecting:

● Sauce packets (any kind)

● Plastic creamer coffee pods

● 2 oz. plastic soufflé cups & lids

● Sauce dipping cups

● Cigarette filters



Once collected, these items will be cleaned, sorted, and turned into new products—all while helping Thrive for Change earn reward points! Simply drop them off at our office, and please keep sauce containers and tobacco products separate.