December 1, 2020

Dear Friend,

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior and look forward to a New Year, we cannot help but acknowledge that 2020 has been a difficult year for all of us.

Everyone’s life has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents are learning to cope with children involved with at-home distance learning. For some, it has meant sheltering in place and working online at home for the first time. Others have lost loved ones to the virus, had businesses shut down, and are experiencing financial uncertainty.

As you might imagine, the pandemic has had a serious impact on us at Healing House, as well.

Our entire way of doing business has been disrupted. Additional staff members have been hired and lots of protective equipment has been purchased. To protect our residents, we have greatly expanded our technology resources allowing us to move counseling and support groups to an online format. We closed our large dining hall and now deliver meals to thirteen different recovery homes every day.

Despite the pandemic, we have accepted over 500 new residents this year, providing them with safe housing and wrap-around recovery services. Every night at Healing House, nearly 200 men, women and children are off the streets, sober, and seeking God to guide them in their new lives in recovery from drugs and alcohol.

Angie is a person whose life has been completely transformed at Healing House. Her substance abuse problems started when she was about 25 years old. Although she knew alcoholism ran in her own family, she got involved with people who abused both meth and alcohol. It was not long before she was hooked.

It wasn’t long before people in her life to begin noticing a change in her. So, she withdrew from others, pushing away friends and family. Her poor decisions made her feel as though everything was falling apart. Then, she went to jail for 90 days and lost her job. With no ambition to find honest work, she started selling drugs. This led to two more stints in prison.

One day while incarcerated, the thought hit her – she was 34 years old and had a choice to make; either change right then or remain stuck in a destructive cycle for the rest of her life.

Angie decided to start applying to transitional living programs. She met a woman in jail who mentioned a place called Healing House that had helped many people like her. So, she started calling. After three tries, she was able to speak to Mama Judi and got accepted!

After her release from prison, Angie came straight to Healing House. At first, it felt strange to be surrounded by people who told her they loved her and showed genuine concern for her. She certainly was not used to that!

Although she did 120 days of substance abuse treatment in prison, the steps and recovery process had not really sunk in. Angie soon discovered Healing House was about so much more than just learning the steps. Having a dedicated sponsor and supportive community made a huge difference.

Healing House worked with Angie so she could find a job and learn to be more responsible. Hearing from others whose stories were like her own was encouraging. She was relieved to be surrounded by people who were always rooting for her. Now she knows there is always someone she can call if she is having a hard time, and they will give her the love and support she needs.

Angie has been a house manager for Healing House since September 2019. Because of Healing House, she was able to reconnect with her family, build strong friendships, and improve herself spiritually and ethically. As a house manager, she is happy to be able to pass on everything she learned to the women living in her house, hoping they will grow as much as she has or more!

Your continuing support is truly reclaiming lives and restoring hope for people like Angie. This year has been difficult financially, but with your end-of-year gift, we will be able to finish strong and continue the work that God has called us to do — feed the hungry, clothe the naked, invite in people who are homeless and nurse people with addictions back to life.  All so that they may lead the productive life God intended for them.

As we come to the close of the year, I ask that you continue to keep Healing House in your prayers and assist us financially. Even a small donation of $20.00 will help us with this awesome mission.

Your investment in Healing House is making a difference!  God bless you all and have a Merry Christmas!

Sincerely,

Bobbi Jo Reed
Founder and Executive Director