Wine Country Times

Judy Ryder, Women’s Recovery Services (WRS) board member, said the Weekend Discoveries education program at WRS has benefited from volunteer commitment and their willingness to offer classes on a regular basis. Ryder shared her statement with Wine Country Times on May 26.

"Over the past 2 years there have been 55 volunteers who have offered or are committed to offering a 2 hours class for the women at WRS," said Ryder. "One of the gifts to come about with this group of volunteers is their commitment to the program and their willingness to offer a class on a periodic basis. Each time the volunteers come for a class they are meeting new women."

Weekend Discoveries, initiated by Ryder and fellow board member Marianne Estournes in 2022, provides WRS residents with opportunities for personal growth through educational experiences outside of WRS. "The idea of the classes was to bring some fun, learning, expression, play and, hopefully, something new to give the women some juice on the weekends," said Ryder. Topics for the classes have included equine therapy, collage art, watercolor painting, dried flower art, writing/collage, zen doodling, dance, music, bees and honey, vision box, canine companions, haircuts, sound healing, yoga, pilates, a holiday dinner, canning and play therapy.

Ryder said that for women in recovery, the volunteers teaching the classes reflect care and support from the community but that the program also means something to the volunteers. "They have expressed their appreciation for the opportunity; that it was an honor to be asked; that they’d be delighted to be asked back; and wondered how they could support the women even more."

According to Ryder, much of the success of Weekend Discoveries is due to volunteers of the program recommending it to others. "One volunteer, a doctor in Sonoma County, offered a painting class and then went online connecting with other women she knew who had talents to share," she said. "She described her experience and what it meant to her to provide a class and asked these women if they had any interest in also offering a class. She then sent me a list of six women who responded saying they would be interested in offering a class."

Hilary Merrill, the owner of Rayo Ranch in Cotati where the equine classes are held, said a WRS visit was "amazing" after one of the classes. "The women expressed what a healing and spiritual experience they had this time," she said. "My heart was swelling to see them soaking up nature, sensory awareness and horses so completely. I wish I could offer them these experiences more often."

WRS is located in Santa Rosa and is a nonprofit founded in 1975 that helps families recover from a mother’s addiction. According to its website, the organization’s goal is to break the cycle of addiction for women by providing a safe residence that allows neglected children to remain with their mothers while in recovery.