Trauma and grief marked David’s childhood. His father died when David was just 5 years old. Then, David was a victim of abuse and molestation by a family member. The trauma left him with a lot of anger, and he turned to drugs to cope with the pain. 

David’s subsequent struggle with addiction was a rollercoaster. It led him to homelessness and legal trouble, as well as to periods of recovery and healing through his relationship with the Lord. Yet the good times only lasted so long. 

“There were crises in my life, and I didn’t know what to do. Even if I had the coping tools, I didn’t know how to apply them, and I’d turn back to the drugs. It just destroyed me.”

David had come to the Christian Aid Center before and graduated from our recovery program. So, when he was struggling with addiction again a few years later, he was embarrassed. He was afraid our staff would look at him differently—but he had to set aside his pride. His wife and 2-year-old daughter were depending on him.

“I didn’t want to leave my daughter for one second, so it was hard to come back to the CAC. But at the same time, I was in a really dark place. I didn’t want to live like this. I knew I needed to get myself right.”

David is now thriving in our supportive environment. He’s especially benefiting from classes about mental health and recovery, and he’s studying to earn a high school diploma. He wants to pursue a career in social work.

“I’m grateful to the CAC for helping me get back on my feet again. I’m figuring out my emotions and learning how to apply new coping skills to my life. It’s helping me tremendously. I feel so much better about myself.”

David is filled with thanksgiving for God’s redeeming love in his life—and your incredible generosity and support. “I know that with the Christian Aid Center’s help, I can move forward with a better mindset and a better relationship with the Lord.”

Eddie loved his mom – so much so that he moved across the country and into her home to help take care of her. He had struggled with alcohol in the past, but he was trying to leave that behind.

While Eddie was away for a few days, his sister made a decision that would change his life forever. She moved their mom into a nursing home, cleaned out the apartment where they were living and left Eddie with nothing.

“I’d been working and doing well. Now…I was homeless.”

The idea of sleeping on the streets terrified Eddie. Fortunately, he never had to. He heard about the Christian Aid Center and came looking for a safe place to stay and help to get back on his feet. Soon, he was in our Rebuilders Program. He dedicated himself to our life-skills classes and took to heart guidance from our staff. He started to heal emotionally – and over time, decided he wanted to be baptized.

"It's just amazing what God has done in my life,” Eddie says. “When I arrived at the CAC, I was down in the gutter. I had no hope.”

Now, Eddie serves in our kitchen as part of our work therapy program. He still has several months before he graduates from our Rebuilders Program, which typically takes 12-18 months to complete. At that time, he’ll be part of a formal graduation ceremony at CAC. But until then, Eddie is already enjoying the promise of a brighter future.

“Before, I was lost. Now, I’m found. I have peace of mind. I’m not stressed and worried anymore. I believe that all things are possible through Christ. I know I have a future,” he says.

Eddie is thankful for the way you have answered God’s calling to love your neighbor as yourself – and have helped him learn how to love himself.

“The Christian Aid Center is outstanding. They do so much to help people. It’s just a beautiful place.”

Tyler wanted his old life back — but for the past few years, he’d felt trapped by mental illness. It all started shortly after he graduated from college back in 2002. He was coaching basketball and looking into a career in the mortgage industry. When he was invited to go on a mission trip to Haiti, he gladly volunteered, but sadly, that was the beginning of his journey with mental health issues.

“I had a bad reaction to a drug I received to prevent malaria,” he says. “After I got back from Haiti, I started experiencing some bipolar symptoms. It took nearly three years before I was able to return to work.” For a long time, he was able to manage these symptoms with medications, but then he started having severe side effects.

“My life was a rollercoaster. I was in and out of hospitals and struggling with which medications to take, and not even wanting to take them.” His family supported him as best they could; but thinking a more structured environment would help, they brought him to the CAC.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I got here. I had never been in a shelter before. At first, I felt like a fish out of water, but that feeling slowly faded as I met some of the people here.”

It wasn’t long before he decided to join our long-term recovery program. The routine of classes, counseling, work therapy, Bible studies and fellowship with staff and other guests in the program helped him develop new, healthy patterns of behavior. It also helped him become disciplined with taking his medications, which had been one of his biggest challenges.

Additionally, even though Tyler had always been a Christian, the program showed him how to go deeper in his faith and apply the Bible to his life.

Tyler’s life is now in a good place, and he has a clear path forward. He better understands his mental health challenges, and he knows how to manage them. But perhaps most significantly, thanks to the CAC, Tyler feels known, understood and supported by a larger community of believers. 

With Jesus’ love in his heart and hope for the future, Tyler is grateful for your support. “I’m thankful to the CAC for taking me in and making me one of their own. They gave me a community. I feel stable and settled."

Do you ever wonder what to say when a pandhandler asks you for money? Instead of giving your spare change, put them in touch with the CAC where they have a chance at experiencing real change. We have meal cards that you can hand out to pandhandlers--maybe along with a bottle of water or a granola bar. We're happy to send these cards to you; just This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your address and the number of cards you would like.