The Rockdale Houses for Men and Women will be having their annual open house Nov. 8, 2009, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The houses will be celebrating 35 years in the community, helping alcoholics and drug addicts and changing lives. Both houses will be preparing food and refreshments. The Women’s Service Association will be serving at both houses.

"We invite community leaders, people in the community that donate through out the year, former residents, and families of former residents. We usually send out around one thousand invitations. It is open to the public; there will be food and fellowship. Judge Nancy Bills will be coming to the women’s house to speak," says Director for the Women’s House, Renee Kalb. Kalb also shared that an invitation is sent every year to Governor, but he is yet to arrive. Speaker for the Men’s House is still to be announced.

"The Rockdale House is a non-profit organization. We are in the business of building communities and saving lives one by one," states Kalb. "The focus is on a 12 Step program, but over the years we have added things like anger management, parenting classes, life skills, whatever an individual’s needs may be."

Founded by Sue and Brad Butler in 1974, the Houses serve the purpose of a safe place for men and women to recover from drug addiction and alcoholism. The original Rockdale House was co-ed. It was not until 1984 that the houses were split.

For more information on the Houses, visit www.rockdalehouses.org.