Giving thanks for YOU
Lawrence shares how your support changed his life!
Lawrence was raised by his grandma until he was 12, but when she died, he was forced to live with his mother. “My mom was an alcoholic,” he remembers, “and my daddy was an addict who wasn’t really in my life.”
Without parental support or encouragement, he turned to drugs and alcohol as a distraction from boredom. “I went from occasional partying to full blown daily addiction… I was out of control. I chose the street and drugs over my family, and it derailed my life.”
His downward spiral of addiction was made worse by an increasingly bad temper that got him into trouble. A violent altercation while under the influence resulted in him being sent to prison for 10 years.
“This place is a blessing; they gave me the tools I needed to change my life for the better.”
While serving his time, Lawrence began to see he needed a real change in his life. “I came to grips with myself, I realized I wanted to get closer to God, and I committed to making changes.” That commitment led him to your Evansville Rescue Mission.
In our Oasis Program, Lawrence had the support he needed to get clean from his addiction and work on his anger issues. “Controlling my temper has been such a struggle for me in the past, but they’ve helped me overcome my anger.”
His work training on the housekeeping team and the safety and security team has helped prepare him for employment and life after your Evansville Rescue Mission. “The people here gave me the drive to do better and be better. They saw something in me and have stayed beside me to help prepare me for the next step.”
This fall, Lawrence gives thanks for YOU and your incredible generosity. Your prayers and support have helped change his life. “I’ve got a roof over my head; I’ve learned how to save money and how to get around; I’ve got people I can talk to and a plan for my future… most of all, I’ve got hope now.”
