UNC Charlotte’s Collegiate Recovery Community and IKEA recently teamed up to add to the program’s Community Recovery Room; this is the second donation the home furnishings giant has given to the program.
“Last year, we were excited when IKEA Charlotte donated about $3,500 worth of furniture to literally transform our space from an old filing room into the warm and inviting space it is today,” explained Debbie Insley, director of wellness services at the Student Health Center. “When they reached back out to us this year asking if we needed anything else, it was an unexpected, yet welcomed surprise.”
Insley and her staff made a trip to IKEA with a short wish list of items they could use since the room opened last year.
“IKEA really set us up with everything we needed the first time they came out. Our goal this time was to create more storage space and to continue to make the space as comfortable as possible,” Insley noted.
Since moving to a permanent location in August 2012, the CRC has provided recovering students and faculty with weekly 12-step meetings, a space to escape the pressures those in recovery face on campus, and most importantly, a community of peers and support that is critical to sustain recovery and academic success.
“The impact of the CRC has been profound,” said Insley. “I can’t tell you how many parents have expressed the joy and peace-of-mind they have knowing the university their child is going to has a program in place to address their specific addiction needs. It truly is a selling point of this University and speaks to the emphasis we place on making a mark on our students as people, as well as our desire to help guide and prepare them to be successful.”
The CRC program is entering its third year, and Insley is enthusiastic to showcase it and the community room IKEA Charlotte has helped design and furnish in the Student Health Center. She said she hopes to reach more students who are reluctant to accept their addictions as well as those who can be reached before their addictions get too powerful.
“Of the nearly 27,000 people on campus, roughly 1,500 are considered substance dependent, and only about 400 are in recovery,” stated Insley. “We want to get the word out about what we are doing in the CRC to reach as many students as possible.”
Currently, the CRC is making plans for the upcoming inaugural football season with a “sober tailgate” and “OctSober Fest,” billed as a sober-conscience alternative to the traditional, alcohol-heavy Oktoberfest.
Fox News Rising’s Wilson’s World broadcast from the Collegiate Recovery Room earlier this week; click here to watch the segment.