In 1983, Bill and Elaine Van Ost were awarded their first grant for $5,000 in order to help fund the Van Ost Insitute, the first outpatient, nonprofit center for the treatment of chemical dependency. Nearly 25 years later, they were awarded the same grant — in the amount of $22,000.

When Lillian Schenck came to the Van Osts in 1983, she said to them, "Why don’t you write up a grant for us?" said Elaine. "It never occurred to us to apply for grants, certainly not that early," she said. They were focused on paying the rent and spreading the word about their institute. "The check came in and I burst into tears," said Elaine. "That $5,000 saved our lives."

Saving the lives of others is exactly what the Van Osts have been doing during the past 25 years.

Through a number of services including intensive outpatient programs, public lectures and professional workshops, the Van Osts along with a number of individuals and staff have helped thousands of families overcome their alcohol and drug addictions.

President of the Board of Trustees, Muriel McDaniel, said that there’s often a misconception about the aim of their treatment programs.

"People think we treat addiction but that’s not really what we do," she said. "What we do is keep people from going to jail, take drunk drivers off the road…we convince them to stay sober or they come to that conclusion themselves through counseling," she said. "We put families back together again, that’s what we do."

Times have been tough for the Van Osts and they saw the threat of the institute closing but their constant determination persevered.

Bill equated the growth of the institute to that of constructing a building.

"I think Elaine and I poured the cement for the foundation," he said. He continued to say that McDaniel and those who preceded her added the studding and roof. "What she’s doing now is the finishing touches to the walls, keeping the house together so to speak and it’s board members who have kept us going."

Due to lack of funding and problems with patients and their insurance or lack thereof, it is important for the institute to receive grants such as the Lillian P. Schenck Fund Grant. "The only equivalent I can give is from when I was in the navy," Bill said. "When I started an IV, I was giving life’s blood and I want to tell you, the grants are like giving us an intravenous." McDaniel continued to explain that the financial end of treating people is incredibly difficult and money from grants helps to fill the gap.

Elaine said the question now is not why they are in existence, it’s how they can grow more and do more for the community. "There’s a tremendous joy attached to being able to help someone and their family members if we can get them to come in," she said. "Spiritually, it is an incredible high just knowing you are helping these people."

There will be a gala event Sept. 18 to celebrate the institute’s 25th anniversary.

E-mail: Andrews@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6723