Community Connection

Wellness

Wellness is not just about being free from illness; it’s about making choices that lead to a healthy, fulfilling life. Gateway believes that supporting a culture of wellness helps people to enjoy their journey and keep going. When individuals thrive, it also strengthens the whole community.

Staff Wellness

Patient Wellness

Community Connection

In an article entitled, Can Connection Cure Addiction?, Johann Hari writes, “Professor Peter Cohen argues that human beings have a deep need to bond and form connections. It’s how we get our satisfaction. If we can’t connect with each other, we will connect with anything we can find—the whir of a roulette wheel or the prick of a syringe.

He says we should stop talking about ‘addiction’ altogether, and instead call it ‘bonding.’ A heroin addict has bonded with heroin because they couldn’t bond as fully with anything else.”

Gateway’s Wellness Program is dedicated to creating opportunities and experiences that break down the stigma of addiction and mental health and bridge the gap to community connections.

R.A.W. Luncheons

R.A.W. Luncheons take place three times a year and are an opportunity for Gateway staff, patients, volunteers, and community members to come together for connection and resource sharing, a delicious free lunch, and an inspiring story of hope and recovery. A free registration link is available about a month before the luncheon and can be accessed via Gateway’s Facebook page, website, email, and treatment offices, as well as email. There are also many ways to be involved.

Obtain 10 hours of community service or a meeting for drug court by attending. Additional hours are available for those who help!
Set up a resource table.
Volunteer the day of the luncheon.
Donate to make the luncheons free and accessible to everyone!

Contact Abby Shockley at ashockley@gatewaytoprevention.org or 405-273-1170 for more information.

April 2025

Wil Garcia

HEAR FROM WIL

November 2024

Susan Stacy

HEAR FROM STACY

September 2024

Bryce Jones

HEAR FROM BRYCE

April 2024

Darrell "Junior" Quirk

HEAR FROM JUNIOR

November 2023

Asa "Ace" Samuels

HEAR FROM ACE

September 2023

Laura Monroe

HEAR FROM LAURA

March 2023

Carrie McCoy

HEAR FROM CARRIE

R.A.W. Connection Calls

In March 2020, during the start of the pandemic, we had to pivot our R.A.W. Luncheons from in-person gatherings and take our program virtual. Thankfully, this approach allowed us to reach a greater span of people to continue spreading the message of hope in recovery. While we have returned to in-person R.A.W. Luncheons, our previous R.A.W. Connection Calls are available for you to watch and enjoy.

R.A.W. CONNECTION CALLS

Gateway's Volunteer Team

In 2019, Life.Church chose Gateway as one of its mission partners, stating a commitment to provide relief and restoration to its community through volunteerism and corresponding funds, believing that we can do infinitely more together than we can apart. This partnership allowed Gateway to develop a Volunteer Program that welcomes both Life.Church participants and non-affiliated community members alike to serve and make a long lasting impact on Gateway’s people and programs for generations to come.

Why Volunteers Matter

Volunteers help people on their recovery journey feel seen, accepted, and encouraged.
Volunteers help meet staff and patients’ needs that would otherwise fall through the cracks due to lack of resources or people power.
Volunteers open doors to new people, ideas, and possibilities for Gateway’s staff, patients, and programs.
Volunteers help tell Gateway’s story of hope and reframe the negative stereotypes and stigma of addiction.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Gateway Glow Newsletter

Gateway Glow is our quarterly newsletter, offering an inside look at the impactful work of our staff, patients, and community partners. We hope that sharing even a small piece of our story keeps you informed, connected, and inspired.

Help reduce stigma around addiction and mental health by sharing this newsletter with others!

READ THE GATEWAY GLOW NEWSLETTER

Shawnee Outlook Magazine

Gateway is a grateful contributor to the Shawnee Outlook. Our articles seek to educate, encourage, and empower community members around the issues of prevention, treatment, and wellness.

Local grief support group in Pottawatomie, Seminole, and Lincoln counties

Understanding Grief: Healing Through Community and Support

Grief can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Discover how support groups and healthy coping strategies can help you heal and find hope after loss.

Kent Scott, LPC, Gateway to Prevention and Recovery and Tiffany Truelove, Director of Family Services, Legacy Parenting Center

Stronger Together

In Shawnee, two nonprofits, Legacy Parenting Center and Gateway to Prevention and Recovery, have joined forces to provide parenting support, mental health care, and essential resources, helping local families heal and thrive.