What lights someone’s heart on fire to do good in the world around them? The Trombetta family has had that fire in their hearts for generations. It began with Silvio Domenico Trombetta and slowly trickled through his daughters and granddaughters. Motivated by their belief that everyone is deserving of second chances and that asking for help is courageous, they have been sharing their passion and generosity with Parisi House for over a decade. The work they have done is inspiring and will undoubtedly continue to ignite the fire in the hearts of everyone around them for generations to come.

Jennifer Cabral is looking forward to Mother’s Day this year. Growing up, she could not wait to be a mother. She has many memories of taking meticulous care of her baby dolls. It was one of her favorite things to do. She loved to feed them, change them, take them all around, and protect them from her big brother. Becoming a mother to her two girls was one of her greatest joys. However, she quickly found that protecting herself and her two daughters was not as easy as caring for her baby dolls.

Motherhood can sometimes feel like trial by fire. No matter how prepared a woman feels, the transition can be challenging. Real-life often doesn’t live up to the expectations we set for ourselves. Adding drugs or alcohol to the mix can make the experience especially painful. For many of the moms who come to Parisi House, they have been living their motherhood in survival mode. At Parisi House, moms find the support they need to get sober and receive the gift of second chances with their children.

Don’t forget, sports fans – You can skip the kitchen this Super Bowl Sunday and support Parisi House by picking up your game day food from any three MOD Pizza Locations. Sunday, February 13th, when you mention you are ordering to support Parisi House at their Santa Clara, San Jose (Almaden), and Morgan Hill locations, 20% of the sale will be donated to our program.

The holiday season can be an incredibly emotional time for our moms. They are often separated from family and friends during treatment and repairing the damage that addiction has done to their lives. Parisi House staff worked hard this last season to make sure our moms and their kids were left with memories that will motivate them as they rebuild their lives.

Mindfulness has become a major buzzword these days. The practices of meditation, breathwork, journaling, and being more consciously aware of the present moment are incredibly beneficial for de-stressing from daily life. These practices are also extremely helpful in recovering from drug and alcohol addiction because these cognitive functions in the brain are often impacted by long-term chemical dependency. Parisi House teaches our moms mindfulness techniques while with us to help them cope with the stresses of sobriety.

Heather, a Parisi House graduate, had a good life growing up. She has a supportive and loving family who gave her a structured childhood and wanted the best for her. Early struggles in high school lead her down the path of addiction. In 2005, she gave birth to her son but still found herself struggling to quit. With the stable, structured support of our programs and the bond she made with her child, she could commit herself to her sobriety fully. Parisi House was “the best chance at living a good life” for her and her son.

Recovering from an alcohol or drug addiction is challenging for anyone. For mothers, it can be especially hard to seek out treatment. The thought of having to leave their children behind is often a gut-wrenching prospect. At Parisi House on the Hill, mothers can bring their children with them, which benefits both mother and child in their journey to healing.

Christy Williamson is no stranger to sharing her story. Elements of it have been featured on our website and our Facebook page. However, the former client said getting to speak at this year’s Garden Party was a huge honor, calling it “one of the best days of her recovery journey so far.” For her, it was reassuring to hear that people were inspired by her story. She will keep the memory close to her heart forever.

Opportunities to bring people together have been scarce amid the pandemic landscape. With the world slowly opening back up, we were able to bring Parisi House on the Hill supporters together again this year for our annual Garden Party fundraiser.