Review from "Body, Mind, & Spirit"
The Pocket Sponsor
This little paperback became a big seller at Serenity by the Sea when author Shelly Marshall (also author of Day By Day: Young, Sober, & Free, and other popular recovery books) held a book signing. Shelly designed this book to be read at the HALT moments. This exceptional support book also has a phone list for the number of your sponsor and others in your recovery circle. Whether you are new to recovery or have more program time, Pocket Sponsor is a wonderful book filled with words of inspiration and hope. It's a must for people in recovery.
- Submit the name of a worthy treatment center or organization
- Tell us why you think they should receive the FREE Pocket Sponsors
- Be sure to include their mailing address
- Be sure to include your first name and initial
Who receives the books and why?
January 2007: CDA Woman's Retreat, Maryland
February 2007: Marianne B nominated Amethyst House in Staten Island, NY. She wrote: This halfway house, where my daughter spent several months last year, is a community of women putting energy into their recovery process with the help of a committed, involved, and supportive staff. The positive spirit in the house helps promote the positive changes that take place there for the women ready to use the opportunity. As the only halfway house for women in the city of New York, Amethyst is an important treatment resource which provides services in ways that respect and encourage each resident. Amethyst House, you receive 10 books because some cares!
March 2007: Suzanne H. wants her clients at Transitional Housing in Georgetown, Delaware to benefit from the book. She explained: All of our employees at this center are in recovery, Yes, all seven of Us! My Supervisor first introduced us to the Book, Pocket Sponsor about a year ago. What a great aid to those in need and a tool for our counseling staff to be able to give to each new resident. When our clients come to Us, they have hit bottom many many times and we need all the resources we can to carry the message of recovery and show them that there is a better way of life. Suzanne, your center is receiving 10 free books. Thanks for caring about your co-workers and clients like this.
April 2007: Dawn R. nominated Timberline Knolls in Illinois. I just recently started supporting a newly organized OA meeting at this facility by attending meetings on Monday evenings. It is a treatment center for young girls/women from ages15-21. They are eating disorder sufferers besides suffering from alcohol and substance abuse. There is an AA meeting available to them as well. It is truly inspiring watching them open up to the suggestions of 12 Step recovery and I think it would be a wonderful resource to have this book on hand for them. Timberline Knolls, you receive 10 books because Dawn cares.
May 2007: Kevin Mc from Topeka H&I committee in one of our 12 step programs.sent in this request: Hi ..Im writing to many of my friends in the program , asking if you want to help(?). Our area here lost $ (thousands...) in a failed extravagant Convention try... We are having a H&I fundraiser the 5th of May. Im asking for donations of t-shirts, Speaker Tapes/CDs, books,IPs,used keytags,whatever... It can and will all be used by our H & I Commitee. Thankyou, Kevin
June 2007: Glenda W. from Buffalo, New York wrote in, I would like to nominate Casa Di Vita, a women’s halfway house for recovering women located in Buffalo, NY in Erie County. The name of the facility means “house of life” and has positively restored life in many of the women whose lives had been affected by drugs and alcohol. Casa Di Vita is the first facility of its kind for women recovering from alcohol and other substances in Western New York. There is a staff of eight caring and compassionate individuals that provides supports for the women in their recovery and transition back into the community and reunification of their family with their children. you got it Glenda!
July 2007: Mr. Peter H. an employee at, Harlem MTP in New York wrote: Our clinic is at the forefront of supporting and recommending self-help 12 Steps support groups to our clientel, who are people recovering from the abuse and dependency on opioids and other addictive substances. Our modality, has daily groups of which INTRODUCTION TO 12 STEPS, is but one. We also facilitate, Relapse Prevention; Crisis Intervention; Stress Management; Women's Group; A.M. Focus groups, as well as Path to Success; Dress for Success; Health Awareness; Medication Group; Anger Management and of course Methadone Anonymous groups. I'm sure that having the addition of your literature, would be a great and positive aid to our clients and staff members. Peter--thank you for caring and sharing about your group.
August 2007: Brenda C from Cornerstone in Houston wrote, I would like to nominate Cornerstone Recovery for receiving some of your free books. They offer 12 step meetings for adolescents and parents in Houston, TX and make a huge difference to families in despair. Cornerstone personnel can thank Brenda for taking the time to nominate their center.
September 2007: Vickie T. wrote to us from a detox unit in Danbury, CT : I currently work at MCCA, Inc. in the detox unit and I feel that having a few of these books handy would be great for our younger clients, I have used some of the puzzles and they were great! I really think that they could benefit from this book if it was made available to them. I would really appreciate you considering our organization for the pocket sponsor book. Vickie--thanks for caring for the young people on your unit--
October 2007 Ruth J thinks enough of her facility, Choice Skyward in Belfast, ME, to submit them. She wrote: We offer Outpatient drug and alcohol counseling, including gender specific groups, Intensive Outpatient, Trauma and Addiction group for men and women, individual and family counseling. We are located in Midcoast, Maine in a rural designation setting. We have 2 offices, Belfast and Rockland Maine, and a Psychiatric and Addiction Recovery Center within Penn Bay Hospital. Thanks Ruth, 10 books are on their way
November 2007 Jerry L, from Food Addicts Anonymous in Vallejo , CA, wrote: I am nominating my food addicts group because, like the effects of alcohol addiction, food addiction creates a societal stigma on its sufferers. People in my group are hungry for help, for inspiration, and for that Higher-Power inspired moment of truth and insight. Our group is only about 25 active but we are starting to get so many newcomers that our qualified sponsors are overwhelmed with requests to sponsor people. Having resources like your wonderful Pocket Guide would really help. ANYTHING you could send our way would be GREAT!!! .We agree and so 10 books are on their way.
December 2007 Terri B from Back to the Basics group in Forest Hill, MD wrote: One of my sponsees recommended your sight, and I am glad you did, I ordered your book and some tokens, I read about your offer to donate pocketsponsor books to a center. I believe the Overeater's Anonymous group I attend could really benefit. Many of our members are dual addicted, they often (if not always) share that food is the hardest addiction to deal with. There are some wonderful people who are still suffering. It makes me weep, and also fills me with gratitude for my long term recovery. Please donate some books to this center, I do think that the support will be welcome. Overeater's Anonymous, Our Group is "Back to Basics" You just won your group 10 books!
January 2008 Jerry B. of Baptist Behavioral Healthcare in Union City, TN wrote in: I would like to nominate Baptist Behavioral Healthcare to receive a copy of Pocket Sponsor. This facility has a wonderful staff that always go above and beyond their requirements to help carry the message. I know this book would be a great asset to the patients. It would give them something to think about in between groups, when the disease is working to disqualify them from being there. Jerry, we agree with you that the Pocket Sponsor would be a great asset but we are not sending one book, you got them 10!
February 2008 Alisa S.,from Orca House in Cleveland, OH just finished treatment: I've just completed a 30 day treatment program at Orca House for Women. When I arrived at Orca, I was depressed, full of shame, hurt, fear and despair. My counselor, Ms. Sylvia welcomed me with open arms. She immediately started counseling me with written exercises that helped me get through my feelings of shame and guilt. It was as if she looked right through to my heart and seen exactly what was needed to help me heal. I would like to nominate Orca House for the free pocket sponsors. Due to the high transition of women in Orca House and low funding, they are in great need of meditation materials. Alisa--you are doing great! And nominating Orca is a form of service--you have just scored 10 books for your treatment center.
What People are saying about the Pocket Sponsor
From India: This pocket is just fantastic and at times I get my answers from it.I only forward the day I really learn something and not always. Lots of love, Satya B (From India)
From West Virginia: Dear Ms. Marshall, I am almost through the Pocket Sponsor and continue to be smitten by the bright cheerfulness. I told my wife (I hope you won't be offended) that I fell like I'm in a Step Aerobics class. At least in comparison with the laguorous Twenty-four hours a Day book. This is the only text that I have seen that can give the old chestnut a run for the money, and they lifted half of it from Bill W! Please send 10 more copies of the book. We will be giving them to out-of-town speakers at our lead meeting. John R, West Virginia
From Canada: Hi There, I think the pocket sponser is a very good thing..sometimes i read somethingin it that strikes me and I say to myself- that is so trrue...... Take Care, Bernadette From Canada
From Poland: This Pocket Sponsor is probably the best thing I have in my inbox each day. I have had others daily things sent to my email, but none as good as this. Very practical, can be applied immediately and isn't full of jargon and holier then thou sayings. I love it!!! I'm very grateful I am getting them. Thank you! Take care, GB-U Tom in Poland
From Canada: Look forward to the pocket sponsor every morning when i get up,for you tostart my day off on a positive note. I pass it on to everyone on my address list. Keep passing on all of that great wake up info. It sure start's my day off on the right foot.I still don't know how you got my email address,but i sure am glad you did.Keep the great gift of hope coming. Your's in sobriety, Eddie (Canada)
From Maryland: Just a quick note of "Thanks". You signed two of your "Pocket Sponsor" books for me during CDA 's Serenity weekend in Rehoboth Beach a few months ago. I purchased one for myself and the other for my sponsor...two of my better investments! Please know how grateful I am for this handy , concise , thought provoker... Little did I know how often we would refer to that little volume!
Since that weekend, my sponsor has been diagnosed with a serious terminal illness. He is a man of great faith who has been an invaluable beacon for countless addicts during his 23 years of recovery and is now unable to attend as many meetings as he would like. As a result he spends a good deal of time with periods of prayer, reading and meditation...Your book is one that he consistently mentions frequently as a source of inspiration during our times together.
Hi Shelly, Just wanted to let you know that Ron R passed away last Thursday 9/11/03 using "The Pocket Sponsor" right to the end. What a tremendous void is being felt! May God continue to bless your journey, Brian
Dear Brian, I will always be humbled in knowing that my small part in helping to create the Pocket Sponsor gave any comfort, however small, to one of our CDA members

For only 10 cents each, you
can give your sponsees a Pocket Sponsor Token with your number on it.
You write your number on one side with felt tip pen and the other side
has a slogan from the book. Send your name and the
name of the group or organization you represent and we'll send you a
free sample.