Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Renewed

Patch talks to Renewed about the work it does to assist and support those afflicted with eating disorders in Nashville.

Patch: Tell Patch a little bit about your organization!

Renewed: Renewed helps individuals who struggle with eating disorders by providing free, professional and confidential referrals for treatment. We also offer proven educational training for healthcare professionals and a supportive community for those seeking recovery and renewed health. We were previously known as the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee (EDCT), one of the first 501(c)(3) organizations in the southeast exclusively focused on eating disorders.

Patch: How does your organization help to strengthen the local community?

Renewed: Despite their prevalence in our culture, eating disorders remain a difficult topic to understand and discuss. Stigma, shame and misinformation prevent many from seeking the help they deserve. Although 30 million Americans will suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some point in their life, only 1 in 10 of those individuals will receive proper care for their illness.

Anorexia nervosa, a specific type of eating disorder, has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric conditions. Renewed is working hard to change the conversation around eating disorders. Through our programs and services, including several free support groups and education initiatives, we are helping the Middle Tennessee community seek a healthy relationship with food and exercise, find peace with their bodies and be confident in their own skin.

Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?

Renewed: In many cases, the stigma and misunderstanding of eating disorders keeps individuals suffering in silence and prevents them from reaching out for help or utilizing our services. Eating disorders are often glamorized in the media and portrayed as a choice that can be easily controlled. Nothing could be further from the truth! Eating disorders are real, psychiatric illnesses that require specialized care from a team of professionals.

As an organization, Renewed is here to connect individuals in need of care to professionals who can help, but our culture’s perception of eating disorders often stands in the way. Through our education and prevention initiatives, we are working to correct society’s view of eating disorders and encourage those who are struggling to find the path to recovery. It is hard work, but recovery is possible with the right resources and network of support in place. For those in need, Renewed is a safe place to begin the path to recovery. We offer several free programs to form a strong and welcoming community. These include art therapy, body positive yoga, music therapy and regular support groups. For more information, please visit our website: Renewed.

Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?

Renewed: We have just completed a strategic planning process to help us set organizational goals for the next six years (from 2017 to 2022, our 20th anniversary!) A main focus of ours is increasing awareness of Renewed as the go-to resource for eating disorder support and treatment resources in the Middle Tennessee area. We’d also love to expand our support services and educational programs into new geographic markets where there currently aren’t many resources available. These include Chattanooga, Knoxville and Memphis. Lastly, due to the high financial cost of eating disorder treatment, Renewed strives to develop a scholarship program to make treatment services more accessible to those who otherwise could not afford it.

Image via Renewed