Hope is Alive Alumni Celebrate Another Year of Friendsgiving

Hope is Alive Alumni Celebrate Another Year of Friendsgiving

Every fall, our alumni take a moment to pause during the holiday rush and come together for Friendsgiving. Unlike other HIA alumni events, Friendsgiving isn’t built around a program or a schedule. It’s meant to feel more like walking into a family gathering where alumni can relax, enjoy a good meal, and simply be present with the people who have walked alongside them in their recovery journey.

Friendsgiving has become a tradition in every market where we have an alumni group, and this year’s celebrations were full of laughter, gratitude, and a whole lot of good food.

Alumni Friendsgiving Gatherings

Oklahoma City saw the largest turnout, with more than 30 alumni from OKC and Weatherford filling HIA’s central office great room for a catered Thanksgiving meal. Though the main dishes were taken care of, in true family style, many alumni showed up with homemade desserts and sides.

Other markets kept the spirit alive in their own way. Tulsa and Claremore gathered at the home of a longtime supporter who loves hosting the group each year. Across North Carolina, both Greenville and the Crystal Coast had strong participation once again, each group meeting out for dinner. Kansas City, Wichita, and DFW followed a similar path, choosing local restaurants where alumni could gather around a long table, share a meal, and enjoy the chance to breathe during the busy holiday season.

While each market celebrated a little differently, one thing remained consistent: The culture alumni first experienced inside Hope is Alive’s recovery homes resurfaced. Alumni celebrated milestones, shared life updates, and encouraged one another. Stories from early recovery mixed with updates about new jobs, growing families, and personal victories. Even without a structured agenda, the heart of the program showed up around every table.

As newer graduates, like Devin Scarbrough, sat beside those who completed the program years ago (as far back as 2019!) Friendsgiving became a reminder of the lasting community that develops through Hope is Alive. No matter how far alumni have come or how busy life becomes, traditions like Friendsgiving make it clear that they’ll always have a place to come home to.

What Our Alumni Have to Say

“My favorite part about Friendsgiving was meeting all of the other alumni and hearing about their experience in the program and what their lives look like now. As the most recent graduate, this was my first alumni event, and it was truly a special experience getting to see all of the previous graduates that are staying connected to the program that saved their life, just like it did mine.” —Devin Scarbrough

“Friendsgiving was a great chance to reconnect with people I haven’t seen in a while. It was like a family gathering, and it was great to catch up with everyone and hear about what’s been going on in their lives.” —Grant Green

“It was great to see everyone and how they are doing today. I am thankful to be a part of HIA and how lives are still radically changed even out of the program.” —Robert Holsonbake