The First Step Was Food Security: Gideon’s Recovery Story

Before recovery, Gideon was sinking into an overwhelming situation, one where even the most basic human needs felt out of reach. “Every day, all day long, I would fight my eating disorder just to even drink water,” he shared. But with support from a WithAll grant, Gideon was finally able to focus on overcoming his eating disorder and begin reclaiming his life.

For many, recovery isn’t just emotionally and physically demanding. It’s also financially straining and out of reach. Without consistent access to food, the most essential part of treatment becomes impossible.

This is a story about what happens when that barrier is lifted. About how one small grant, enough to cover groceries, became the foundation for real, lasting change. And how your support for WithAll can directly impact the lives of those working to heal.

A Daily Fight Made Harder by Food Insecurity

Before turning to WithAll, Gideon had spent years helping others. Working in social services, he supported families through some of life’s most difficult challenges. But after a workplace injury led to disability, he found himself on the other side of the struggle: navigating his own.

As his physical health declined, his eating disorder worsened. And without a steady income, the ability to buy enough food became uncertain. Recovery seemed impossible. Then the WithAll Recovery Support Program came through and shifted the outlook.

“It was so wonderful to be able to buy all the food I needed to meet my program goals,” Gideon said of receiving a WithAll Recovery Support grant. “Not having to worry about how I would replace the food I was eating really helped me to focus on recovery.”

For someone with an eating disorder, simply having access to food isn’t just about nutrition. It’s about stability, safety, and the ability to follow a treatment plan without constant fear of running out.

A Life Reclaimed Through Support

Today, Gideon describes his life with a sense of hope he hadn’t felt in years. “I’m able to engage with life in a way that I haven’t been able to in decades,” he shared. Recovery is still ongoing, but something has shifted. The burden is lighter. “Freeing myself from the burden of my eating disorder is hard work, and I’m still in the process, but I’m already seeing so much light and positivity returning to my life.”

That shift didn’t happen by accident. It happened because someone gave. Because a grant made it possible to meet a basic need that so often gets overlooked.

“The first and most basic part of treating an eating disorder is making sure there is food on hand,” Gideon said. “Recovery is one of the hardest things we have to do, and having other pressures from other stressors in our lives is a huge barrier to starting and continuing treatment.”

Now, Gideon spends his time reading, hosting game trivia, and caring for his two cats, Zero and Mono. These simple joys are powerful reminders of what healing can bring.

Your support helps remove the barriers that keep people like Gideon from moving forward. It restores hope, creates stability, and opens the door to lasting recovery.

Help Make Recovery Possible

If you believe in the power of recovery and want to help remove barriers for others like Gideon, there are many ways to support WithAll’s mission. From donating to volunteering or becoming a sponsor, every action helps create a path toward healing.

Every child deserves to feel good in their body. Donate today to help prevent eating disorders and support those in recovery. Your gift fuels our What to Say Initiative and Recovery Support Program.