To honor National Recovery Month and his own sobriety journey, Vineyard photographer Michael Blanchard donated $5,000 to Vineyard House on Thursday from the proceeds of his annual calendar.
Blanchard sold 2,500 copies of his 2027 “Inspirational Calendar” this year. It is the ninth year that he’s produced the calendar, which is a yearlong effort in photography by Blanchard and incorporates community input on photo selection. It is also the second time calendar proceeds were donated to Vineyard House, for a total of $10,000.
Blanchard views the funds as not simply as a personal donation but as contributions from the community.
The Vineyard House, which was founded in 1997 as a stable and supportive transitional living environment primarily for people from the Island in early recovery from substance use disorder, is located in Vineyard Haven on a permanent campus that can support 25 men and women.
And the Vineyard House’s mission is personal to Blanchard, who celebrated 16 years of sobriety on July 26 of this year.
The timing is also meaningful as September was designated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as National Recovery Month to celebrate “progress, recognize those who make recovery possible, and invite every American to be part of building recovery-ready communities,” according to the agency’s website.
“We are so grateful to Michael Blanchard for generously dedicating proceeds from his calendar sales to Vineyard House,” Jennifer Vogel, executive director of Vineyard House, said in a statement. “During National Recovery Month, his generosity is a meaningful reminder of the importance of community support in helping Islanders rebuild their lives in recovery. We truly couldn’t do this work without you.”
Readers can purchase Blanchard’s 2027 calendar at Edgartown Books, Coastal Supply Company, and Cronig’s Market or on his website or Amazon.
