Jake grew up in a broken home with very little contact with his father. When his mother remarried, addiction entered the home, and the instability that followed shaped much of his early life.

Jake had "always known about God," but addiction ended up taking hold of his life too. At 21, while visiting family in Idaho, his grandfather—a preacher involved in prison ministry—gave him his first leather-bound Bible and prayed over him. "The power of God's spirit engulfed me like a gentle calm that I had never felt before."

In time, Jake got married and put drinking aside for several years as he and his wife raised three daughters and a son. But when life became difficult, addiction returned-first alcohol, then other forms of drugs. He tried to overcome it on his own, but it slowly took control.

"Eventually, my marriage ended," Jake says. "Addiction took everything from me."

Jake was living on the streets of Spokane when he severely injured his foot. "They wanted to amputate it, but I wouldn't let them." After several surgeries and three months in the hospital, he was released—grateful to still have his foot, but with nowhere to go.

"I wanted to do something with my life," he says. "I had nothing to look forward to."

When Jake heard about a recovery program at the CAC, he reached out to the director, who invited him to come right away.

"That's where I found a bed, meals and reconnected with Jesus."

Jake later joined the recovery program and began rebuilding his life. "The Rebuilders Program has given me the tools to turn my life around," he says. "It has also given me love and compassion to want to help others change theirs as well."

Because of CAC, Jake looks ahead with renewed hope. He believes the new shelter offers "unity, hope, and the opportunity to move forward with the blessings the Lord has provided."

Samantha was a happy child with loving, Christian parents. They had insulated her from most of the darkness of the world, but never taught her about the dangers of addiction. So when she was offered drugs as a teen, Samantha saw no harm in giving them a try. “I started using at 17 and it stuck with me.” 

She went on to start a family of her own, but little by little, addiction took over her life, damaging her faith and stealing her happiness. Eventually, Samantha couldn’t hold a job and lost custody of her children. “I wound up living on the streets,” she says. “I saw everything as negative. I’d lost myself.” 

Then her children’s father was killed in a car accident and the tragedy drove Samantha to change her life. “I wanted to be a good mom, but I knew I couldn’t do it by myself, so I came to the CAC.” 

Through classes and counseling, Samantha has developed the life skills she needs to live free from addiction and become the parent she longed to be. Her relationships with her children are growing strong and soon she’ll regain custody. “The CAC showed me how to give my kids a happy life.” 

With encouragement, guidance and in a safe environment, Samantha’s faith has been restored, and she’s found healing for her emotional wounds. “I’m becoming my old self again, with a positive outlook,” she says. 

Samantha has a job now and is saving money for a home where she and her children could be together again. She can’t wait! “I’m ready to get my kids back,” she says with a smile. “I’m good at being a mom now and I love it.”

This Christmas, Samantha is experiencing the gifts of peace and hope for a brighter future. Thank you for sharing the blessings of God’s love with her.

“The CAC gave me structure, helped me set goals and taught me how to make a better life for my family.”

Megan shares how your support gives her hope.

Megan grew up in a close-knit family with five siblings. There was always someone around with whom to talk or play. “Maybe that’s why I’ve always liked being around people,” she says.

Megan went to school to be a medical assistant – she has a passion for helping others. Then she got a job out of state and moved away from home. But the loneliness that followed was devastating.

“I struggled with stress and depression, and I handled it with alcohol.”

Eventually, Megan came back home to help her dad run his business, but her struggles with alcohol followed her. And when her father passed away, her life fell apart. She struggled to pay rent and lost her home. With nowhere else to go, Megan planned to live in her car – until a friend told her to go to the CAC instead. Desperate to avoid homelessness, she put her two beloved cats in foster care and walked through our doors.

“I was scared out of my mind... like a deer in headlights,” she says. “I was so afraid I would do something wrong and be out on the streets.”

In the encouraging environment of the CAC, Megan began to get back on her feet. She benefited from being accountable, taking life-skills classes and making new healthy friendships. Her confidence grew, as did her faith. Before, she didn’t believe in God, “but my feelings about God have done a full 180,” she says. “Now I thank God for everything He’s done for me.” She also started going to church again and getting involved with the activities there.

Today, Megan is a part of the Center for Women & Children staff. “Having a job and responsibilities keeps me busy and gives me purpose.” She is looking forward to saving enough money to get a place of her own, where she can be reunited with her cats. “I feel better about myself now and no longer use alcohol to numb my pain. I see myself doing bigger and better things thanks to the CAC,” she says. Your gifts are bearing fruit in the lives of people like Megan. Her heart is full of hope this fall... thanks to your kindness!

“The CAC taught me to trust in God and to trust in myself. I’m living a sober life.”

Your love helps Harlan know he is not alone...

Harlan knows the value of hard work. Raised by a single mom who always had multiple jobs, he followed her example. “I’ve been mowing lawns and stuff since I was like 12 years old. I’ve always worked,” he says.

As an adult, Harlan attended college and got married – but 15 years and three children later, his marriage ended in divorce. “It devastated me,” he says. “I was barely able to function. I was working hard to provide for my family, and I didn’t understand why that wasn’t enough.”

Yuri grew up surrounded by violence. Her mother struggled with addiction, and Yuri witnessed things no child should have to see. By age 14, she had turned to alcohol and gang activity to cope with the trauma she’d endured. 

“I did whatever I wanted. I felt a lot of anger inside… along with loneliness, insecurity and hopelessness.”

Then, Yuri got married and had her first child when she was 15 years old – which led her to turn her life around. “Unfortunately, I followed in my mother’s footsteps with addiction. But God sent my daughter to change my life.” 

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.”