The MAS Law Community Outreach Program had the chance to sit down with Volunteer Program Manager Kady Younkman and Community Outreach Coordinator Diana Miller of The Magdalen House. From the interview to viewing the house, fulfillment and joy never subsided. We learned about the non-profit’s roots, discovered the many resources The Magdalen House offers, and were educated about alcoholism. It was an experience we won’t soon forget.
The Magdalen House is a non-profit that first opened their doors in 1987 and has stayed open every day for 35 years. Completely free to anyone who walks in their doors their mission is to serve alcoholic women and help sustain their recovery from alcoholism at no cost at all to the individual. Based on 12-Step spiritual principles, women stay 14 days for the residential First Step program, attending classes, meetings and workshops, with meals, toiletries and other basic living necessities provided. The Magdalen House moved in April 2021 to its new location at Gaston Ave. and Old East Dallas in Dallas, Texas. The capacity of women attending the 2-week program grew from 14 to 20, and the opportunities didn’t stop there. They offer English and Spanish recovery classes and meetings, the Next Step Program, and the Volunteer Program to the community of alcoholic women.
The Magdalen House also recognizes alcoholism doesn’t only affect the alcoholic, but the loved ones of the alcoholic as well. Weekly support groups meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm and Thursdays at 12:00 pm to help friends and families better understand alcoholism, regardless of the alcoholic’s recovery. They also have a Family and Friends Big Book study on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm for friends and families to study the 12-Step spiritual program for themselves. They offer educational classes for businesses and schools to spread awareness that the person suffering is not alone.
Alcoholism affects 1 out of 11 women. When you do the math, that’s 251,000 women in the DFW area, but that is only the people who do claim to be an alcoholic. The chances are that the rates are higher than that, due to the lack of education as to what constitutes an alcoholic. The difference between an alcoholic and a heavy drinker is a heavy drinker can stop their drinking for long periods of time where it is needed. An alcoholic has a disease that resides in the persons body causing them to have a physical allergy to alcohol, meaning the alcoholic’s body doesn’t process alcohol like a normal drinker. A mental obsession then arises in the alcoholic, and no matter how much the person wants to stop drinking, they feel as if they can’t. An alcoholic is a normal person, they just aren’t a normal drinker.
Working, helping, and educating others – alcoholic or not – is what The Magdalen House is all about. That’s why we wanted to give back to them and show our appreciation toward our community. The love they have for the community radiates and inspires so many to better themselves. We were able to gather 6 boxes full of school supply items, and with the help of the community, we reached our $2,000 goal with all the likes/comments/shares. Thank you everyone who participated in The School Supply Drive for The Magdalen House, and a huge thank you to The Magdalen House for loving our community unconditionally.
