# of signatures for the Green Box Label Project™:35

Karen Hall: Author

Debbie Hutchinson B.S., CNC.

Psi Chi., International Honor Society in Psychology

Obtaining MS in Clinical Nutrition (UOB)

Centered in Functional Medicine

Bill Hutchinson B.S., Retired Army

Gods Perfect Timing...

Hi my name is Karen Hall,

I am excited to be a co-founder of A.V.O.I.D. I feel I have so much to bring to the group of people who are faced with addictions and mental health struggles. I have often heard; your calling is the "thing" you've had to overcome all of your life. Well, that would be me! I fit right into that category - for addiction and mental health crises were often the norm in my home growing up. With two parents who were addicts and both with a diagnosis of depression and schizophrenia. I've had my fair share of living in this type of environment.

If there is one thing you can rest assured on, it is that we at A.V.O.I.D., know how it feels to have and to live out these struggles. My mother passed away in 2008 and I felt in my heart at this time God prompting me to write my story. I finalized my story "Fight from within," and it was published January 2015. It is a story centered in Christ, because without him there is no way I would have ever made it out alive. I tell my story through the love I have for Jesus and my prayer is that it will change the lives of those who read it! I met Bill and Debbie while we all still lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 2008 and we discussed A.V.O.I.D., many times, but due to circumstances beyond our control we decided to lay it down until we both felt God tell us it was time. The time is now; we are all better equipped to walk out this calling and are all very excited to do so.

Everyday our faith grows stronger in God and we know that through A.V.O.I.D. many are going to be set free from the bondage of addiction and mental health struggles. We know anyone can overcome any circumstance and although it may never be perfect here on this earth it will be easier, because we walk it out everyday with the one who is able to help us overcome! We are all fighting a spiritual battle, but there is also an environmental, lifestyle, and nutritional battle we face everyday, so through functional medicine and having Jesus in the center we are able to bring balance to our spirit, soul, and body.     

                                                       May God richly bless you,

                                                                               Karen Hall

Nutritional Wisdom...

"I  pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well" (3 John 2, niv).

Co-Founder & Visionary

May God richly bless you with Health and Healing,

Bill and Debbie Hutchinson

Who would have known Bill and I would be the founders and visionaries of a non-profit, especially one that advocates for those who struggle with mental health and addictions. However, looking back it really should not be that big of a surprise, for we have both dealt with addictive personalities, emotional struggles, and such issue over the years. However, it wasn't until one of our family members traveled down a road into a journey of hopelessness, not only with addictions, but a devastating mental health crisis that would shake the foundations of our world to its core, both as individuals and as a family unit.

With a desire to help change a broken system in the treatment protocol options for those with mental health we established our non-profit. Once we were thrown into the psychiatric world we knew our lives would never be the same. In the process of attempting to find healing for our loved one, we only found more chaos and turmoil in every direction we turned. At one point I finally said, what you are offering here is not working for us and unless you come up with a different plan we're not doing it this way anymore. This is part of what prompted me into my search to help them heal. In my many hours of searching, which consumed my life, I came across the functional medicine model, it was here that a whole new world of possibilities opened up to us. Where the traditional psychiatric model only offered us doom and gloom with a possibility of no hope, the alternative route offered us HOPE in the healing of the whole person; Spirit - Soul - Body!!! 

Over the years of equipping ourselves to this calling, it has been an incredible journey to say the least and one that has been life changing for us and we know it has the potential to be a life changer for others as well. It is through this journey to help our loved one that we have also recognized the value of helping others who are struggling to find a better, saver, and more natural ways to heal from such a devastating and life debilitating disease. We are honored to be able to serve those who are hurting and we consider ourselves very fortunate in being able to do so. We believe that we live in a country that everyone should be able to choose how they wish to heal and all possible treatment options should be provided so that they are able to make an informed decision for themself. Therefore, we are asking for your help in making a difference by standing in the gap in someone's life today, because honestly that someone could one day be someone whom you love.

"A stable mind is impossible without a balanced brain" ~ Dr. Linus Pauling, Noble Laureate and founder of Orthomolecular Psychiatry.

Unexpected calling...

Founders & Visionaries

Events

If you have able hands, feet ready to serve, and a willing heart, we want & need you! There are several impactful ways you can help; spread the word through your own social media, by telling your friends and family, and through our events to be held periodically throughout the year. Click to learn more...

Services

The bondage of addiction and emotional brokenness can be debilitating, however with giving the body what it needs - it has an innate ability to restore itself back to health. The road is never easy, but it is achievable! With A.V.O.I.D. you do not have to travel it alone...

Mission & Vision

We have a simple, but purposeful mission:

To ignite a revolution to break the stigma of mental health by equipping those and their families who struggle with the knowledge of holistic health solutions by initiating change to incorporate a functional medicine approach as part of every treatment protocol.