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Sam

Sam

Thank you for giving Jason a life-changing gift this Christmas!

Thank you for giving Jason a life-changing gift this Christmas!

Jason was born and raised in the Walla Walla Valley, but his childhood home was not a healthy environment. Drug use was common, and his mom and stepfather both spent time in prison. During that time, Jason moved in with another family, but the trauma stayed with him.

“I never graduated from high school and started a family when I was 19 – first a son, then a daughter. Life was good for a while. Then after an operation I was introduced to pain pills. My addiction escalated from there, and I lost my family.”

Without his wife and children, Jason’s mental health suffered. Eventually, his addiction led him to fentanyl, which resulted in him losing his job and becoming homeless.

Jason knew he needed to change his life – but withdrawing from the drugs was more difficult than he expected. “I couldn’t sleep. I was going crazy and couldn’t get off the couch. I thought I was going to die.”

Desperate for a safe place to get sober and turn his life around, he came to the Christian Aid Center. “I immediately felt a level of comfort here. Somehow, I knew I would be okay.”

“The CAC got me through the process of overcoming my addiction.”

Through our recovery program, Jason began to heal physically and mentally. He also learned how to build healthy relationships with his peers. Now, he’s attending Walla Walla Community College to earn his high school diploma and a certification in welding. His academic success is bolstering his confidence! Our staff all agree that Jason is a hard worker who has a bright future ahead of him.

“I used to be uncomfortable around other men. I’d always been kinda standoffish and shy,” Jason says. “But since coming to the CAC, it’s been easier to talk to people. I’ve grown in that way too.”

This Christmas, Jason is experiencing all the joy this season has to offer – because YOU believed in the power of a fresh start and the promise of God’s unending love. “I’m thankful to the CAC for opening my eyes to the need for recovery.”

Shari's Story

Shari's Story

Shari’s childhood was marked by chaos, addiction and abuse. Her mom called her a loser who
would never amount to anything – even admitting she wished Shari had never been born. The
emotional abuse from a young age took a toll on Shari, as did the sexual abuse she endured at the
hands of other family members.


But there was a fighting spirit inside Shari. She never stayed quiet about what she endured,
instead speaking up to tell anyone who would listen. She ran away from home at age 17,
determined to build a better life. Yet she lacked the emotional maturity she needed to succeed. It
wasn’t long before Shari found herself in an abusive relationship and pregnant.


“I didn’t feel like I could raise a child, so I gave up custody of him. That decision changed my
life forever.”


As the trauma of her past and the sorrow of giving up her child collided, Shari began using drugs
to numb her pain. “I felt like I had no reason to live – but I didn’t want to die.” Shari's addiction
progressed and street drugs started being laced with fentanyl, so she knew she needed to change
to stay alive. That's when Shari came to the Christian Aid Center in search of help.


“I’m learning how to heal my soul and set boundaries.”


Through our recovery program, Shari received guidance and care to overcome her addiction and
begin healing from her past traumas. She also started building a relationship with God and was
baptized. “Now I’m very active in my church,” she says. “I’m thankful to the CAC for giving me
a new life and the confidence to live productively.”


Shari has since graduated from our recovery program and has steady employment. She
gives thanks for YOU and your incredible generosity. Your support has changed her life.
“Before, I was suicidal and couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel of my addiction. Now,
I’m excited to find out how else God is going to change me.”

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