Do I have to use my real name?

No. You can share publicly with your name, with a first name only, anonymously, or privately just to Hope Council staff. You choose, and you can change your mind.

Will Hope Council publish my story automatically?

No. Every story is reviewed by staff, and nothing is published without your explicit permission for the specific use. You will know exactly where your story may appear before anything is shared.

Can I remove my story later?

Yes. You can withdraw your permission at any time, and Hope Council will remove your story from the places it controls. Contact us at info@hopecouncil.org or 262-658-8166.

I need help — should I share my story?

If you or someone you love needs support right now, start at Get Help or call 262-658-8166. The story form is not monitored for crisis support. Your story will still matter later, whenever you are ready.

Share Your Story - Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, Inc.

Your story could be someone’s turning point.

Share Your Story

Stories change minds. They reduce stigma, show families they are not alone, and prove that recovery is possible. If you are willing to share yours — as a person in recovery, a loved one, a volunteer, a donor, or a community partner — we would be honored to hear it. Sharing is completely optional, and nothing is ever published without your review and permission.

View Impact

How this works

Sharing is optional

You never owe anyone your story. Private experiences can stay private — sharing is one way to help, not a requirement of being part of this community.

Every kind of story matters

Personal recovery, supporting a loved one, volunteering, giving, partnership, event experiences, or honoring someone’s memory — all of it shows what hope looks like in Kenosha County.

You choose how you appear

Public with your name, first name only, anonymous, or private to Hope Council staff. You can also ask us to contact you before deciding anything.

This is not a service request

Story submissions are not monitored for crisis support and are not a way to request services. If you or someone you love needs help, start at Get Help — or call 262-658-8166.

Get Help

Share your story

A few honest sentences are enough. Nothing is published without your review and permission.

"*" indicates required fields

URL

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Name

Email*

How would you like to appear?*

Your story*

Add an attachment (optional)

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, pdf, Max. file size: 10 MB.

A photo or document to go with your story — optional. Max 10 MB.

Agreement*

I understand my story will be reviewed and will not be published without my permission

Leave confidential feedback

Not a story — just honest feedback for Hope Council. Unlike a public Google review, this goes only to staff and is never posted publicly. Leave it anonymous if you prefer.

"*" indicates required fields

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Overall experience*

1 = poor · 5 = excellent

Your feedback*

Which service was this about?*

If "Other"

Name

Email

Not sure where to start?

You do not need to write something polished. A few honest sentences are enough. If it helps, start with one of these:

What brought you to Hope Council?

What changed for you, or for your family?

What helped, when you needed it most?

What would you want someone else in your situation to know?

What happens to your story

Where stories may appear

With your consent, stories may be shared on the website, social media, the annual impact report, donor communications, or event materials. You choose what is allowed.

Review and permission

Nothing is published automatically. Staff review every submission, follow up with you about how it may be used, and confirm your permission before anything is shared. You can change your mind and ask us to remove your story at any time.

A note on safety

To protect everyone, please avoid naming other people without their permission, identifying details about third parties, or graphic details of substance use. We may lightly edit for length, privacy, and person-first language — always with your approval.