After college, Emily Smith didn’t have a plan, but wanted to serve her community in the Twin Cities, MN. She signed up for two years with AmeriCorps, the federal government’s program for national service.

Her assignment was to save lives among those who were using substances. Her main tool was a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses – naloxone. She joined the Steve Rummler Hope Network, a nonprofit that distributes naloxone throughout Minnesota and shows people how to use it.

First though, she says she had to confront her bias and the views of many around her. “There is often an upfront judgment of people using drugs that they might be lazy or not work hard enough to stop using substances.”

“There is a lot of shame and stigma around addiction,” she says. People, even drug users, think addiction is a choice or results from a lack of will power. Research has shown it is far more complex, involving physical sensitivity and social isolation. 

Smith’s first lessons came from other volunteers, who had experienced addiction or had family members who had died of overdoses. “Hearing about their experience gave me a new understanding of addiction and helped me develop more compassion,” Smith says.

Then the Twin Cities Recovery Project helped her and other volunteers learn to let go of any agenda they had when working with those using drugs. “We learned to listen to what their needs are instead of coming to a situation with our own bias telling them what they need. They might just want a bottle of water or socks,” she says. “We also listen to their stories. It helps us remain non-judgmental.”

“Some people might not want to find recovery right now, But if you’re consistent with showing up for them and saying, ‘I care about you, here’s some more naloxone. I don’t care how many times you need to get it. When and if you’re ever ready for a life of recovery, I’m going to be here to support you.’ That helps build trust.”

Building trust with those living on the streets who use drugs is tricky, says Smith, because folks often move or are forced to move to new locations and she might not see them regularly. That’s where organizations like the Steve Rummler Hope Network come in. Its volunteers are in many places and keep showing up. 

Those struggling with an addiction, says Smith, “see the organization as a community of people that really cares about them, providing them with resources without pushing them to recovery. They’re simply there to provide support.” 

She says learning to care for people as neighbors, rather than as the needy, changed her view of service. The Weave project will be working over the next several years to help reframe volunteering as mutual care we do because we are a part of a community, rather than as charity work.

We created the Weaver Network as a search engine to help people find opportunities for relationship-based service near where they live. You’ll find thousands of opportunities near you at weavers.org/network.

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