My Nonprofit Reviews

I have been a part of FINDINGbalance (almost) since the get-go. First as a client healing from ED, then as a volunteer at their conferences, then as their social media moderator and a leader in their excellent Lasting Freedom program (which is currently unmatched!) When, after nearly two decades of service to the organization, our Founder felt called to move on to a new ministry focus in a different field, I was offered the position of FINDINGbalance Outreach Coordinator (volunteer, my choice) and have held that role going on 4 years. The leadership here has always been exemplary. I trust this ministry 110% and have been a faithful donor since 2006. I have been blessed by the interactions with business associates and those seeking freedom. God continues to bless this organization and ministry greatly! Praise the Lord for all He is doing through FINDINGbalance.

FINDINGbalance's Lasting Freedom program changed my life! I now have a strong support system to help me when I am struggling with disordered eating, depression, and body challenges. With community, friends, and a stronger sense of my value to my family, friends, and my community, I am able to get out of my isolation and am making friends, forming new bonds, and using my gifts of encouragement more extensively. I know I am a child of God who is beautiful in His sight. I honestly do not believe I would be alive today if it were not for FINDINGbalance and their supportive faith-based recovery program.

My husband & I have been involved with FINDINGbalance for about 10 years, and for the past 5 years as volunteers, 4 of which we helped during their annual Hungry for Hope event where both professionals & laypeople come together to be educated on eating disorders & body image issues, as well as be spiritually inspired. Fb currently has an online recovery support group, Lasting Freedom, that has members from all over the world coming together to support & encourage each other as they/we seek freedom from disordered eating and body image challenges. I have been an active LF member for almost 2 years, currently volunteering as the Lasting Freedom Site Moderator. The support of this community has helped me walk the recovery path with grace, strength, and a solid faith-based foundation! I love this community and this ministry so much!

People had been telling me for years that, because I was not underweight or overweight, I didn't have a problem with food, but *I* knew there was something wrong with my private relationship with food & binging & over-exercising, and as a Certified Personal Trainer, the guilt overwhelmed me. In Spring 2005, I read Constance Rhodes' book, "Life Inside The Thin Cage", and soon after, I contacted her by email about how the book spoke to me. I wanted more information about EDNOS and Constance was creating a workbook for small groups (which would become "Finding Balance with Food"), so I waited for it to be completed. In Spring 2006, our church had an epidemic of deaths due to unhealthy lifestyle choices, one was a young woman, 29 years old and mom of 2 small children. The church pastor was aware that this was a problem and he knew I was interested in helping. He encouraged a friend and I to start a "body image/food issues" support group. We used several different books in our Bible study group, as well as the "Finding Balance" website and e-newsletter to assist us and guide us as leaders while we waited for the "Finding Balance with Food" curriculum to be completed in Franklin TN. In Fall 2008, when Constance was looking for pilot groups outside of Tennessee to test the curriculum, our church group volunteered, and I must say good things come to those who wait! Our San Jose CA FBwF pilot group had 10 women, ranging in age from 43 to 71 years old. This group dynamic brought challenging discussions about food attitudes and life-long poor eating habits, as well as revelations about body image & aging. The curriculum was well-organized with videos, discussion sheets, leaders' guide, and easy art projects. I confess that when we started, we were not excited about doing these art projects, many of the women said they personally weren't creative and resisted doing them. However, the time we spent on these projects became the highlight of our meetings; they were relaxed, easy, and took us back to "little kid" days when a piece of paper and glue and glitter were fun, back to a time when we were not judgmental about ourselves and our bodies. As a result, "Life Inside The Thin Cage" & the FBwF curriculum is the benchmark for our group and we are planning to begin a weekly Fb Gathering in June 2010.

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