Mariah’s Mission of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation was founded in 2014 by Valerie and Rick Albee to honor their beloved daughter, Mariah. Mariah, at the age of 29, lost her life on September 7, 2012 to an accidental heroin overdose.
After her death, Valerie found solace in a bereavement group in Pasadena, Maryland. After moving to the Eastern Shore, she decided to tell her story to gain support for other families struggling with substance use disorder.
Initially, Mariah’s Mission provided support groups and resources to empower families and individuals struggling with the effects of substance use disorder. Today, our focus is to address the recovery needs of the local counties by establishing a community in which those with addiction have pathways to long-lasting recovery.
Often, families struggle in silence to cope and ask “why?” They are forced to deal with the stigma associated with substance use. These families are part of a club no one wants to join. They need support, a forum to talk, and a sense of togetherness to move forward in a positive manner.
Valerie is an active volunteer sharing Mariah’s story through personal speaking engagements and continues to advocate for families in need of support. On May 17, 2019, Valerie Albee was presented with the Mid Shore Behavioral Health Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize her work.
To learn more about our story, see page 67 of the February 2016 issue of the Tidewater Times, which can be found here: https://issuu.com/tidewatertimes/docs/february_2016_ttimes_web_magazine
Or visit: https://talbotspy.org/recovery-a-mother-redefines-her-daughters-memory/
Mariah's Mission is also featured in the article, "Stronger Together: Public and private agencies solve community issues across the Mid-Shore" from Shore Monthly. The article can be found here: https://www.shoremonthly.com/post/stronger-together-public-and-private-agencies-solve-community-issues-across-the-mid-shore?fbclid=IwAR00E9oCHFlJmWA3dLwBgFytyX_CHjKAhnKRT4IHaXql49CYj0PbQLsdi4g
Mariah Albee