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The Sweet Addiction

The Sweet Addiction empowers women in recovery by providing essential resources, safe housing, and job training programs, particularly in culinary arts, to help them overcome barriers, gain independence, and build hopeful futures.

<p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' id="isPasted" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In 2025, The Sweet Addiction (TSA) has once again been honored to walk alongside brave women determined to rewrite the narrative of their lives. These women have faced addiction, trauma, and incarceration - but with courage and resilience, they have begun building futures filled with purpose and hope.<p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This year, we celebrated the incredible accomplishments of M and K, who both completed TSA&rsquo;s program and secured positions at the Tennessee Professional Career Institute. What once seemed impossible became achievable thanks to the confidence, skills, and readiness they gained in our program.<p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We also rejoice in J&rsquo;s journey. After giving birth to her child, Jade chose not to step away from her recovery path but instead pressed forward, working part-time at TSA while taking on a new role as a peer specialist at Recovery Court. Her story embodies the ripple effect of healing - women who once needed support are now standing strong to guide others.<p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But alongside these triumphs, there is urgent need. Each month, more and more women reach out to TSA desperately seeking help. Too often, we are forced to say no - not because there isn&rsquo;t room in our hearts, but because there aren&rsquo;t enough resources to provide the critical next step in their recovery journey.<p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">That &ldquo;next step&rdquo; is safe, stable housing. Too many women completing recovery programs are forced to return to environments that once fueled their addiction. Surrounded by triggers and instability, the fight for sobriety becomes even harder. In Rutherford County, mothers face an impossible choice: stable housing, or reunification with their children. The housing that exists doesn&rsquo;t allow both. This is the gap TSA is determined to close.<p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Our vision is the creation of STEP Homes - special transitional housing where women in recovery can safely live, rebuild, and host their children for overnight visits, surrounded by mentorship, training, and support. STEP Homes are not just shelters; they are sanctuaries of hope, where mothers rebuild bonds with their children while gaining the tools to parent and live through the lens of sobriety.<p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Family recovery housing is at the heart of TSA&rsquo;s mission for four powerful reasons:<ul fr-original-style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in;" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; box-sizing: inherit;" type="disc"><li fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; box-sizing: inherit;">Personal Empowerment &amp; Stability: By removing women from high-risk environments, STEP Homes protect their recovery and strengthen their personal stability.</li><li fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; box-sizing: inherit;">Professional Growth: With safe housing secured, women can fully engage in TSA&rsquo;s job-readiness and skills training programs, laying the foundation for lasting independence.</li><li fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; box-sizing: inherit;">Relational Reunification: By making safe family visits possible, STEP Homes create healing spaces where mothers and children can rebuild healthy, loving relationships.</li><li fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; box-sizing: inherit;">Community Integration: Women who grow strong in recovery and reconnection with their families become thriving, contributing members of the community.</li></ul><p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">By combining mentorship, job training, financial coaching, and safe housing, TSA is cultivating more than transformation - we are cultivating generational change.<p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As we look forward to the 2026 Boro Baking Bash, we invite you to be part of these stories.<p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sponsorship of this annual fundraiser directly fuels life-changing programs like STEP Homes and supports the women walking bravely toward freedom, stability, and joy.<p fr-original-style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:16px;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;' style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 16px; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">At TSA, we have witnessed the power of second chances. A sponsorship is more than a gift - it is an investment in rebuilding lives, reuniting families, and restoring hope. Together, we can make sure that no woman must choose between sobriety and her children. Together, we can transform futures - one woman, one child, one family at a time.

2026 Boro Baking Bash: The Sweet Addiction Bake Off Battle Table Sponsor

En 2025, The Sweet Addiction (TSA) ha sido nuevamente honrada de acompa&ntilde;ar a valientes mujeres determinadas a reescribir la narrativa de sus vidas. Estas mujeres han enfrentado la adicci&oacute;n, el trauma y la encarcelaci&oacute;n, pero con valent&iacute;a y resiliencia, han comenzado a construir futuros llenos de prop&oacute;sito y esperanza. Este a&ntilde;o, celebramos los logros incre&iacute;bles de M y K, quienes completaron el programa de TSA y consiguieron puestos en el Tennessee Professional Career Institute. Lo que una vez parec&iacute;a imposible se hizo posible gracias a la confianza, habilidades y preparaci&oacute;n que adquirieron en nuestro programa.Tambi&eacute;n nos alegramos por el viaje de J. Despu&eacute;s de dar a luz a su hijo, Jade decidi&oacute; no apartarse de su camino de recuperaci&oacute;n, sino seguir adelante, trabajando a tiempo parcial en TSA mientras asum&iacute;a un nuevo papel como especialista en pares en Recovery Court. Su historia encarna el efecto multiplicador de la curaci&oacute;n: mujeres que una vez necesitaron apoyo ahora est&aacute;n firmes para guiar a otros. Pero junto a estos triunfos, existe una necesidad urgente. Cada mes, m&aacute;s mujeres recurren desesperadamente a TSA en busca de ayuda. Con demasiada frecuencia, nos vemos obligados a decir que no, no porque no haya espacio en nuestros corazones, sino porque no hay suficientes recursos para proporcionar el siguiente paso cr&iacute;tico en su camino de recuperaci&oacute;n. Ese &quot;pr&oacute;ximo paso&quot; es una vivienda segura y estable. Demasiadas mujeres que completan programas de recuperaci&oacute;n se ven obligadas a regresar a entornos que una vez alimentaron su adicci&oacute;n. Rodeadas de desencadenantes e inestabilidad, la lucha por la sobriedad se vuelve a&uacute;n m&aacute;s dif&iacute;cil. En el condado de Rutherford, las madres se enfrentan a una elecci&oacute;n imposible: vivienda estable o reunificaci&oacute;n con sus hijos. La vivienda que existe no permite ambas cosas. Este es el vac&iacute;o que TSA est&aacute; decidido a cerrar. Nuestra visi&oacute;n es la creaci&oacute;n de STEP Homes: viviendas de transici&oacute;n especiales donde las mujeres en recuperaci&oacute;n puedan vivir de manera segura, reconstruir y hospedar a sus hijos para visitas nocturnas, rodeadas de mentor&iacute;a, capacitaci&oacute;n y apoyo. STEP Homes no son solo refugios; son santuarios de esperanza, donde las madres reconstruyen v&iacute;nculos con sus hijos mientras adquieren las herramientas para ser padres y vivir desde la perspectiva de la sobriedad. La vivienda de recuperaci&oacute;n familiar est&aacute; en el coraz&oacute;n de la misi&oacute;n de TSA por cuatro poderosas razones:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="disc"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Empoderamiento personal y estabilidad: Al sacar a las mujeres de entornos de alto riesgo, STEP Homes protegen su recuperaci&oacute;n y fortalecen su estabilidad personal.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Crecimiento profesional: Con la vivienda segura asegurada, las mujeres pueden participar plenamente en los programas de preparaci&oacute;n laboral y capacitaci&oacute;n de habilidades de TSA, sentando las bases para una independencia duradera.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Reunificaci&oacute;n relacional: Al hacer posibles visitas familiares seguras, STEP Homes crean espacios de curaci&oacute;n donde las madres y los ni&ntilde;os pueden reconstruir relaciones saludables y amorosas.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Integraci&oacute;n comunitaria: Las mujeres que se fortalecen en la recuperaci&oacute;n y la reconexi&oacute;n con sus familias se convierten en miembros pr&oacute;speros y contribuyentes de la comunidad.</li></ul>Al combinar mentor&iacute;a, capacitaci&oacute;n laboral, asesoramiento financiero y vivienda segura, TSA est&aacute; cultivando algo m&aacute;s que una transformaci&oacute;n, estamos cultivando un cambio generacional.Al anticipar el Boro Baking Bash de 2026, te invitamos a ser parte de estas historias. El patrocinio de esta recaudaci&oacute;n de fondos anual alimenta directamente programas que cambian vidas como STEP Homes y apoya a las mujeres que caminan valientemente hacia la libertad, la estabilidad y la alegr&iacute;a. En TSA, hemos sido testigos del poder de las segundas oportunidades. Un patrocinio es m&aacute;s que un regalo, es una inversi&oacute;n en la reconstrucci&oacute;n de vidas, la reunificaci&oacute;n de familias y la restauraci&oacute;n de la esperanza. Juntos, podemos asegurarnos de que ninguna mujer deba elegir entre la sobriedad y sus hijos. Juntos, podemos transformar futuros, una mujer, un ni&ntilde;o, una familia a la vez.

STEP House: Rutherford County's 1st Mommy and Me Home for Women in Recovery

The Sweet Addiction supports women survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, addiction, and incarceration who are disproportionately impacted by Rutherford County&rsquo;s economic disparities. With 37% of households classified as ALICE and 9% living in poverty, many women face barriers such as interrupted education, limited job skills, and recovery program schedules that conflict with traditional work. The Sweet Addiction removes these obstacles through flexible, incentivized job training grounded in trauma‑informed care. Participants build practical skills and earn certifications in communication, financial management, health, and parenting, all within a supportive community strengthened by peer mentorship. This holistic approach fosters resilience, stability, and long‑term self‑sufficiency, empowering women to rebuild their lives with confidence and discipline. June&rsquo;s story is one of courage and transformation. Referred to us through drug court, she entered our program while living in a long-term abusive relationship with someone twenty years older. Through careful collaboration and steady support, we helped her safely navigate the process of leaving that situation and reclaiming her life. From that point forward, June committed herself to rebuilding. She learned essential workplace skills, earned her high school equivalency, and began job-shadowing as an accounting and payroll clerk. These were steps she once believed were out of reach. Today, only one year later, she is preparing to attend college, works in the very program she first entered in crisis, and is earning certifications that will allow her to guide other women toward the same freedom and stability she fought so hard to achieve. Her journey reflects a full-circle transformation and shows how hope, support, and opportunity can completely rewrite a life. For many women in recovery, the greatest hopes are reuniting with their children and securing a safe, stable home. These goals often become powerful motivators for long-term sobriety. In Rutherford County, the lack of housing that supports both recovery and family reunification forces mothers to choose between maintaining stability and rebuilding their relationships with their children. The Sweet Addiction works to close this gap by offering STEP houses where women can host overnight visits with their children while receiving mentorship, parenting guidance, and life training from a sober perspective. These homes create a supportive environment that helps mothers navigate the challenges of parenting, often for the first time sober or as single parents, while preparing them with the tools, confidence, and resilience needed to move into independent housing and long-term stability. Felicity was referred to us by a sober living home. With no family nearby, her recovery community has become her only support. She has been separated from her young son, who has been in foster care for two years. Determined to rebuild her life, she completed an IOP and a recovery housing program. Her case worker and court attorney made it clear that the final step to overnight visits and eventual custody was securing safe, stable housing. Although employed, Felicity falls within the ALICE community, and affordable homes in safe neighborhoods were extremely difficult to find. Working closely with her case management team, we helped her secure a safe home. In the coming weeks, she will begin receiving tools that support parenting from a sober mindset while maintaining her recovery. She is now less than a month away from overnight visits, and in her own words, &ldquo;Because I have a safe place for my son.&rdquo; Your gift helps open the doors of the first Mommy and Me recovery home in Rutherford County. Give today and change a family&rsquo;s future.

The Sweet Addiction supports women survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, addiction, and incarceration who are disproportionately impacted by Rutherford County’s economic disparities. With 37% of households classified as ALICE and 9% living in poverty, many women face barriers such as interrupted education, limited job skills, and recovery program schedules that conflict with traditional work. The Sweet Addiction removes these obstacles through flexible, incentivized job training grounded in trauma‑informed care. Participants build practical skills and earn certifications in communication, financial management, health, and parenting, all within a supportive community strengthened by peer mentorship. This holistic approach fosters resilience, stability, and long‑term self‑sufficiency, empowering women to rebuild their lives with confidence and discipline.June’s story is one of courage and transformation. Referred to us through drug court, she entered our program while living in a long-term abusive relationship with someone twenty years older. Through careful collaboration and steady support, we helped her safely navigate the process of leaving that situation and reclaiming her life.From that point forward, June committed herself to rebuilding. She learned essential workplace skills, earned her high school equivalency, and began job-shadowing as an accounting and payroll clerk. These were steps she once believed were out of reach.Today, only one year later, she is preparing to attend college, works in the very program she first entered in crisis, and is earning certifications that will allow her to guide other women toward the same freedom and stability she fought so hard to achieve.Her journey reflects a full-circle transformation and shows how hope, support, and opportunity can completely rewrite a life.For many women in recovery, the greatest hopes are reuniting with their children and securing a safe, stable home. These goals often become powerful motivators for long-term sobriety. In Rutherford County, the lack of housing that supports both recovery and family reunification forces mothers to choose between maintaining stability and rebuilding their relationships with their children. The Sweet Addiction works to close this gap by offering STEP houses where women can host overnight visits with their children while receiving mentorship, parenting guidance, and life training from a sober perspective. These homes create a supportive environment that helps mothers navigate the challenges of parenting, often for the first time sober or as single parents, while preparing them with the tools, confidence, and resilience needed to move into independent housing and long-term stability.Felicity was referred to us by a sober living home. With no family nearby, her recovery community has become her only support. She has been separated from her young son, who has been in foster care for two years. Determined to rebuild her life, she completed an IOP and a recovery housing program.Her case worker and court attorney made it clear that the final step to overnight visits and eventual custody was securing safe, stable housing. Although employed, Felicity falls within the ALICE community, and affordable homes in safe neighborhoods were extremely difficult to find.Working closely with her case management team, we helped her secure a safe home. In the coming weeks, she will begin receiving tools that support parenting from a sober mindset while maintaining her recovery. She is now less than a month away from overnight visits, and in her own words, “Because I have a safe place for my son.”Your gift helps open the doors of the first Mommy and Me recovery home in Rutherford County. Give today and change a family’s future.

Strengthening mothers. Reuniting families. Changing futures.

Las personas en recuperaci&oacute;n a menudo retornan al mismo entorno que contribuy&oacute; a su adicci&oacute;n. Dado que las se&ntilde;ales del entorno pueden provocar una reca&iacute;da, es crucial ayudarles a encontrar un entorno nuevo y seguro para una recuperaci&oacute;n estable. En el Condado de Rutherford, las mujeres en recuperaci&oacute;n no deber&iacute;an tener que elegir entre una vivienda estable y la reunificaci&oacute;n con sus hijos, sin embargo, falta vivienda que acomode a ambos. Sweet Addiction proporcionar&aacute; un hogar donde las mujeres puedan vivir con sus hijos mientras reciben mentor&iacute;a y herramientas a trav&eacute;s de entrenamiento sobre c&oacute;mo enfrentar la vida y la maternidad desde una mentalidad sobria. 🌱 Dona hoy para fortalecer a las madres, reunir familias y apoyar una recuperaci&oacute;n duradera.

Las personas en recuperación a menudo retornan al mismo entorno que contribuyó a su adicción. Dado que las señales del entorno pueden provocar una recaída, es crucial ayudarles a encontrar un entorno nuevo y seguro para una recuperación estable. En el Condado de Rutherford, las mujeres en recuperación no deberían tener que elegir entre una vivienda estable y la reunificación con sus hijos, sin embargo, falta vivienda que acomode a ambos. Sweet Addiction proporcionará un hogar donde las mujeres puedan vivir con sus hijos mientras reciben mentoría y herramientas a través de entrenamiento sobre cómo enfrentar la vida y la maternidad desde una mentalidad sobria.🌱 Dona hoy para fortalecer a las madres, reunir familias y apoyar una recuperación duradera.

Fortaleciendo a las madres. Reunificando familias. Cambiando futuros.

Join us for the 2026 Laugh Out Luncheon 😄🍰, where good food and shared laughter support women survivors rebuilding after trafficking, addiction, domestic violence, and incarceration. Your ticket helps provide flexible jobs in our bakery and catering kitchen, job-readiness training, and safe housing support. Together, we&rsquo;re opening doors so women can gain steady work, stable homes, and the confidence to lead in their families and community.

The Sweet Addiction

The Sweet Addiction

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2026 Laugh Out Luncheon

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STEP House: Rutherford County's 1st Mommy and Me Home for Women in Recovery

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Strengthening mothers. Reuniting families. Changing futures.

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