Pret .sados 50

October, 1979

awak e denok bara gaudeix Harrisburg Area Women's News

STANTON HOUSE

by Gloria Miller

The disease of alcoholism/ drug addiction makes a mockery of life. This debilitating affliction takes fine strong women and robs them of their vitality, ambitions, happiness, ability to cope, passion for living, intellect, sanity, and leaves them broken, beaten, crushed shells of women. Fortunately, there are many fine treatment centers available that educate women on how to recover from this unasked-for disease. This, however, is only the first step of a difficult, painful journey. What does a woman do in the interval between her treatment and her re-entry into a purposeful way of life. In the Tri-county area there are no supportive, sober living arrangements for women after treatment where they can relearn the skills necessary for a productive lifestyle.

Three women who have survived

by Lorraine Kujawa

We jumped slightly as the closet door came unhinged. The flashlight we used to search the corners for cobwebes revealed sturdy walls that promised to house hope for many women.. Gloria Miller and I were checking progress of the birth of "Stanton House".

Stanton House is the dream child of three Harrisburg women, who see it as an answer to a desperate need for the women in this area. Having known the pressures and problems of alcoholic women from the inside, they are creating a half-way home for women who have finished treatment in drug abuse centers and need the support that is so often neglected in the outside world.

Women who graduate from treatment centers are often met with hostility, rejection and lack of support from the outside world. Unlike men who received the cure, women find low paying or no jobs available to them; home situations where they were once abused, abusive again.

With the creation of Stanton House (named after Elizabeth Cady Stanton) women can live in a low rent, supportive environment with other women who have shared their same experiences.

With Stanton House will come Harrisburg's first women's coffeehouse. The lower level is to become a social and cultural outlet for women in the area, without alcohol. There are plans for entertainment, art displays, poetry, checkers, conversation, coffee and good food. There is also a possibility of creating a women's bookstore.

How are they doing it? Four months ago the group of three women pooled $2,000 of their own money

and purchased the 2000 Foster Street

the arduous battle of recovery are now trying to make the way a little smoother for those behind us, We wish to enhance their chances of making it because too many don't.

We have a dream. The dream is called "Stanton House: for addicted women after treatment". In this house will live recovering addicted women sharing their strength, hope and experience with each other in order to solve a common problem. In order to make this dream a reality we need the help of the many concerned women in our community.

We have purchased a house. The house needs much restoration. We have come this far with much appreciated intellectual, emotional, spiritual, physical, and financial assistance. However, there is still much to be done. We, and the many women you will be helping, would

The

building. The title is now free and clear, however, the structure needs about $3,000 worth of repairs, including upgrading the electric and painting to make it functional. group now has $250 in the common pool Aside from money, labor is needed. The house needs interior painters, exterior painters, carpentry work, plastering, cement work on the bricks, windows to be replaced and general pushing of brooms. There are plans now being developed to solicit women power so the coffee house can be opened before Christmas, and the living quarters opened in the spring. Furniture will be needed as the major projects are completed.

The Stanton House organization plans to incorporate in the future, setting the house up as a nonprofit organization. If they succeed in turning this three story building into a successful half-way house and coffeehouse for women, they will aim toward opening another building in the area.

The dedication of women often goes unnoticed. We succeed in many changes in our society and often do these things alone. If we do so well as individuals, what might we do if we band together? Why not help make Stanton House a reality? Give some part of yourself to cut the grass, patch a roof, fix a hanging door.

Anyone giving an hour of their time or a ten dollar contribution will have their name inscribed on the wall of the coffeehouse as a pioneer mother.

Photo by Lorraine Kujawa

@ agad.

Page 10

2000 Forster Street

Stanton House

appreciate any contribution in any form skills, talents, mechanical know-how, financial, time, energy, or love. We have faith in the fact that women help women in many ways.

If you are interested in helping Stanton House and have some skill, or have no skills and would like to become part of the growth of this special place, contact Sandra Lee Moore or Lillian Bazzar at 232-2510 or Gloria Miller at 564-5543.1

HOCKEY

Remember field hockey in high school and college? It still exists. in a more refined form in the Harrisburg area. If you're interested in watching or participating in women's club hockey the schedule for October/ November is listed below.

October 6 Lock Haven Alumni, 10:00 a.m. East Pennsboro High School. October 7

York at East Pennsboro High School, 2:00 p.m.

October 13 14 Umpire Conference in Pittsburgh. October 20 Red Lion Club East. 10:00 a.m. Red Lion High School. October 21 State Wood team.

October 27 28 Central Penn Selection (tentative)

November 34 No schedule yet. November 10-11 Mid East Tour, Conestoga High School.

November 22-25 Nationals, Warlord Heartridge School.

For more information, contact Carol Kadinga 545-9764.