The Waterhouse Restaurant in Peterborough raised $1,200 for Reality Check in Jaffrey with a fundraiser in November.
Waterhouse donated a portion of the proceeds for every burger, veggie burger, and mocktail purchased during November.
“We chose the burger because it’s served at dinner and lunch, and then we said, why not a plant-based burger? They hadn’t had one before, and it was a huge hit, and they’re going to keep it on the menu,” said Reality Check board member Richard Van Eecke. “Waterhouse has been a great partner.”
Van Eecke credited restaurant owner Cy Gregg for his support.
“Cy just jumped right in and was so willing to help us,” Van Eecke said.
According to Van Eecke, Reality Check, which has provided addiction prevention and recovery services to thousands of area residents since 2008, recently had to reduce staff because of federal funding cuts.
“That was their primary source of funding, and they have had to cut staff by 50%,” Van Eecke said. “There is probably not one family in this country that has not been impacted by some form of addiction, and here this support is just being taken away from these families.”
Randy Herk, Reality Check’s director of Prevention Services, said the organization is struggling to meet the needs of the region.
“Due to loss of federal grant funding, we are losing most of our recovery services,” Herk said. “Right now, I am a one-person team offering outreach, and we are doing the best we can to adapt and work with what we have.”
Reality Check is working to expand training in prevention and emergency treatment, such as the administration of Narcan, an over-the-counter medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, to local organizations, including schools, universities, and large employers.
“We’re hoping to expand more into schools and continue to raise awareness about these issues, including the risks of vaping and nicotine addiction,” Herk said.
Herk said schools have been reluctant to adapt Narcan training, but recent tragic events in the state have shown how the program can save lives.
“There was recently an overdose at a middle school in Rochester, and Narcan saved a 12-year-old child’s life,” Herk said. “That really had an impact on how schools think about it; it’s a lifesaving emergency measure.”
Herk said Reality Check is also expanding into referral services for online gambling addiction, which is spreading among young people because of the popularity of mobile gaming apps.
“They can gamble on their phones all day long,” Herk said of the mobile apps.
Van Eecke said Reality Check is looking to fill a few slots on its board and is always looking for fundraising partners.
“We are always looking for board members, especially people with experience in addiction services, and with fundraising,” he said. “It’s a very tough time for these organizations, and the impact on families in our region is very real.”