Mothers In Recovery Celebrate Mother's Day With Pampering Session In Harlem

HARLEM, NY — A group of mothers was recently treated to a pampering session in Harlem, just in time for Mother's Day weekend.

Wednesday witnessed a collaborative effort between Samaritan Daytop Village's Young Mothers Program and the non-profit organization Giving Friends. Professional estheticians and makeup artists offered complimentary facials and makeup sessions to mothers undergoing substance use treatment, according to event organizers.

"Mother's Day can be a really vulnerable time, especially for the population that we treat. We think it's important to lean into rebuilding identity and re-experiencing significant events like Mother's Day. This is consistent with the change that we want to see," said Sarah March, Program Director at the Young Mothers Program.

Throughout the event, the mothers enjoyed before-and-after keepsake photos capturing their makeup transformations, as well as a special Mother’s Day dinner to celebrate.

Additionally, they each received donated self-care packages containing skincare products, a recovery journal, jewelry, beautiful bouquets and other thoughtful items, all provided by the sponsors and donors of Giving Friends.

"One of our biggest priorities is building community. By building community, we can breakdown barriers to accessing care and breakdown the stigma that women in need face when they are taking on the journey of seeking recovery," March said.

The Young Mothers Program at Samaritan Daytop Village offers a distinctive residential substance use disorder treatment program. Pregnant and parenting mothers receive addiction treatment while living with their children, ranging from newborns to four-year-olds, under the same roof.

Throughout their enrollment in the program, clients cultivate healthy bonds with their children while also acquiring essential life, vocational and parenting skills to support their journey towards recovery, officials said.

Samaritan's community partner, Giving Friends, was founded by Lynne Corry, an alumna of the Samaritan Daytop Village Young Mothers Program, who has been in recovery from addiction for nearly three decades.

Corry's journey began in 1997 when, as a program client, she initiated her inaugural toy drive. Over the years, she sustained this tradition, culminating in the establishment of Giving Friends in 2020, driven by her commitment to helping others.

Through this non-profit, Corry’s dedication has facilitated the provision of 750,000 new items to 30,000 families in need, embodying the spirit of giving and support.

"This year, for Mother's Day, we really elevated our giving game. We started with just a small group of volunteers, giving gifts for the holidays because it's a dark place to be in treatment with your child," Corry said. "We are able to bring some real joy to the moms. Happy moms make for happy children. Life is not easy, but if we can do it with some new eyelashes, that would be great."