For many in our community, Easter isn’t about chocolates or egg hunts. It’s a hot turkey dinner they can rely on and the sense of belonging they desperately need. For over a decade, Barb Hudlin has been a dedicated member of the volunteer team serving alongside Gordy Dodd at Our Place Society’s holiday meals. She has seen firsthand how hundreds come in from the cold on special holidays like Easter. But before finding this community, Barb faced addiction herself.

Addiction took hold late in Barb’s life, after her children had grown and she was living alone post-divorce. She almost remarried and spent four happy years with a man who tragically passed away from cancer. Grief left her vulnerable and a friend introduced her to harder drugs. “It was pretty simple,” says Barb. “Somebody was caring about me.” To most people, her struggles were invisible. Though she remained housed, she was living with others also struggling with addiction while managing to hide her own at work. But from her children, with whom she had become increasingly disconnected, there was no hiding the truth. Fifteen years ago, her son laid down an ultimatum: She would have to choose between her addiction and her grandchildren. Within 24 hours, Barb made her decision. Within three weeks, she had moved into her own place and begun an addiction recovery program. She changed her phone number and never looked back.

Recovery isn’t as simple as accepting help. Barb knew she needed a supportive community to maintain her health and sobriety. By volunteering her time to help people experiencing addiction and homelessness, she not only gave back but also built the connections that kept her on track. “It’s not easy. You need to f ind acommunity to recover,” says Barb. She knows this better than most. Barb didn’t just rebuild her life; she found purpose and belonging. It’s whyshe believes that Our Place’s holiday meals are about far more than food. “It’s not just putting food in their belly. There’s so much more than that. There’s connection, community and f inding out where they can go to get help. All of that falls into place,” says Barb. “For me, it fills my heart. They are my family.”