Because you helped, they CAN help.
These are the stories of Step Alumni affecting the lives of others. We tell you often - it's worth repeating - the ripple you create is beyond measure.
TAKING IT TO THE STREETS
Eight years ago Jacob Merrion was staying under a bridge where he awoke from a blackout, beaten and in need of medical care. It was at the hospital that he started his journey to Step Denver. Jacob understands what it's like to be in the throws of addiction with nowhere to turn. Today, as head of our Community Outreach efforts, he's on a mission to reach men who are in the same shoes he once was. The offer: same day admission, no cost to enter, warmth, safety, structure, and freedom from addiction.
In addition to street outreach, Jacob spends his days visiting detox centers, shelters, hospitals, and jails; making sure men who are ready find Step Denver and gain immediate access to recovery. In the first six months of this role being in place, Step had a 52% increase in new residents entering the program. "I am grateful to be able to use my experience of homelessness and hopelessness to connect those who are going through the same challenges find a community like Step. I hope that by sharing my experiences men can find the courage to change!" - Jacob
Knox & Nathan
A DIFFERENT KIND OF RECOVERY
A little over three years ago, Chris Jones was a resident of Step Denver. Today, he’s sober and has built a good life in North Carolina. We recently caught up with Chris and learned of his time volunteering to provide disaster relief to families in Kentucky. Less than two weeks after the tornado hit in December, Chris and his boss drove 12 hours and got to work helping in any way they could. The trip wasn’t pre-planned, and they weren’t getting paid. They simply saw people were suffering and decided to take action. Here’s what he had to say about the experience:
“When we checked into the hotel, we didn’t see any damage. Someone told us to cross the bridge and when we did, it was like a war scene. Utter disaster. The emotions… it was an eerie feeling. “We started working at the fairgrounds and there was so much coming in that they were distributing supplies across Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse, and other groups in the area. One day you’re organizing food, diapers, and hygiene items and the next you’re cleaning up scrap from buildings. But at the end of the day, the end goal is all the same." When asked how being sober impacted his ability to be of service to others, Chris shared: “I was able to open my heart and actually feel something. In active addiction we don’t want to feel. Being in recovery allowed me to not be afraid of the emotions of everybody, and my own. Because I am sober I was able to feel the experience – sorrow, sadness, but also the strength. It’s not a matter of how you feel though because it didn’t happen to you. You have to completely let that go and just be there for people. You’re there to help. “Going there for the right reasons is key. I think if I weren’t sober I would be doing it for the wrong reasons. With me not having anything to gain, I actually got to take in the whole aspect of community. It was beautiful. You were family.
“There were kids handing out sandwiches to the people who were there to help. They don’t show that stuff on the news. It really hit home and made me think about how lucky I am. These kids have nowhere to go, probably had nothing for Christmas, and the parents have them out giving us food for helping. It was heart-warming." Chris has been through a great deal of suffering and struggling, and has overcome a lot in his own life, but he had an honest and humble view on the subject: “The difference between what I’ve been through and what they’re going through is that in a way, I chose my path. I also chose to get out of it. But these people, they just came home from work one day and their choice was gone, ripped from them. This was a time where people needed us, and it was something I’ll never forget.”
A PRESENT FATHER In Feb In Febofof2021, 2021, Nathan walked through our doors for a second time. This attempt at recovery was different and so was the
person reaching out for help. Talking about the experience of coming back, Nathan could barely get the words out, voice cracking as he described: “You know we all think we can do it, but I couldn’t. And it jeopardized my son and his health.”
The First Time “I was kicked out when I came to Step the first time, after a month and a half, for circumventing the process and thinking I knew better. I was always that alcoholic and addict that could go to the most bottom of the bottom and turn it around, but only for a short period of time. The common theme of my story is going to 30-day rehabs, coming out and landing a wonderful job like five days later. And that’s not to brag, that actually hurt me more because it kind of empowered that thinking, ‘Oh well I slipped up, but I can get it all back again. I can turn it around.’ But with my son, this time, it was different…”
Real Consequences “I had that shaken to the core feeling. For all these years that I’ve been struggling, I was the main person affected (even though I was affecting my loved ones). With my son it really hit home that, no, he is affected. He ended up having to unexpectedly go from Denver to Buffalo with his grandparents. In a matter of 24 hours, everything went down. It was bad, I didn’t know if I’d see him again for a long time. All of his specialists, his doctors at Children’s Hospital, are here and my behavior took him away from them. So that was gut-wrenching. “I’ve been in treatment over the years with people who had children, who lost them, whose children were very affected. I’d be saying, ‘Well I’d never do that to my kids.’ And here I was, exactly there. “For the longest time, the future was unclear for just me. This time the future was unclear for somebody else that I was directly responsible for, who had no ability to control anything. It was just completely, completely different this time."
Coming Back "The way Step works is that there are always people on staff who were once in the program. I felt a little bit of shame coming back but also, you know that person’s story, that they also had a rough go at it, and now they’re doing it. “The only person you can’t save face from is yourself because you know the absolute truth. I honestly for the first time wondered if I could actually do it or be successful. I’d tried so many times, burning my life to the ground again, and again, and again. “Now, I thought maybe I should just not try to analyze the program requirements or other people. I got very immersed in the program and decided to do all the things that people say, but that I had thought, ‘I don’t need to do that.’ I needed to do everything. “I was humbled like you couldn’t believe.”
Thank you to the 452 donors who gave Step Denver a vehicle in 2021! You didn't just keep our doors open and lights on; you provided our men with a safe, structured place to call home as they worked to recover. Proceeds from the sale of donated vehicles fund the operational costs of Step Denver's residential facilities. Have a car, truck, or SUV you no longer need? We will accept it - any condition, free tow, tax deductible. Another way to transform lives...
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WHY WE GIVE
Vehicle Donation
"Our son passed away from addiction a year ago. When our neighbor told us about Step Denver and how great the program is, we knew we needed to donate our Honda CRV. We love that donating our vehicle allowed men the opportunity to begin the journey of rebuilding the life that they deserve to live without drugs and alcohol." - Marilyn and Paul L.
Motivation “You can only do it for yourself, but there are factors (like your child) that are a real motivating force. If you could do it for your child, I think we wouldn’t be in the position in the first place. There’s a little bit of doubt when we’re making those poor decisions down the trip to relapse road that it won’t get that bad. ‘It won’t get that bad this time because I have this child and he depends on me.’ But then again, we know that’s irrational. “I think what really knocked me down to the absolute most willingness was that I did not know if it was going to be ok this time. What kept me going was knowing that if there was an opportunity for things to get better, I would just keep hoping for that and doing the next right thing. “There’s how many Recovery Support Managers and all these guys around me who have been through the program and they did it. They’re no better than me, but they’re no worse than me. On the days that were depressing, I’d think no, I’m just as good as them… I can do this. “I didn’t go too fast. It’s been a problem that as soon as I get clean, I can turn things around quickly. But if you ask me over the last 15 years what has kept me sickest the longest, it was relying on that. Sure, I’ll come in with my tail between my legs looking like shit off the street and then in 2-3 weeks people would never know. It’s my big regret that I had that ability for so long - mentally enabling me more than anybody else could."
Reunited “I got special permission from Step and flew out to Buffalo for two days. I got to see my son and it wasn’t like I thought it’d be. He was scared. And it’s just like, ‘Oh my God, look what I’ve done.’ I vowed that he’d never be scared or not know who I am. And then I hop in the car and drive back for 25 hours – it was a lot of thinking. I was right at the crossroads. "I don’t know what way to put it, but the severity of this situation and how close it was to being just horrendous, that’s what I think about all the time; when I’m having a tough day or thinking I don’t need to go to a meeting, or that I don’t need to meet my sponsor (we meet every Sunday morning). "They came back in April for Knox's medical care and I stayed at Step. The first thing I wanted to do is say, ‘Ok, I’m good, I’m moving back home.’ I didn’t. It may sound kind of simple but that was a big thing for me. I would meet them at the hospital for appointments, I would see them after work, but I wouldn’t take a weekend pass to stay. I just kept sticking with it."
Life Now “I’m just very grateful every day. A lot of people never had a chance to get to where I’m at. I had so many and I’d screw them up not being truthful with myself and others. In the past I put more effort into making sure people didn’t know about my past and my experiences in life – more effort into that than just doing the right thing. “Things at my job are absolutely mind-blowing. I reach little milestones in my job now and it’s like, ‘Ok, this is new, let’s appreciate the opportunity.’ “It’s very easy to feel sorry for ourselves with our son's medical issues. When I start getting those feelings, turns out the next day or two we have an appointment at the hospital. There’s always a family dealing with much worse, and that’s their normal. It does get hard. But then you see other people and you say, ‘I’m just going to be grateful for my situation.’ “Not forgetting that feeling when I got to Step and my family was gone, or the feeling when I walked in and my kid was screaming, didn’t even know who I was. We talk about it daily, things that have happened, things that we’re doing. Not forgetting how easy it is to get right back there. Literally for me, it’s one decision. “It’s a driving force. I want to do everything I can to give this child the best opportunity. And not like with material things but being open and teaching good examples. When you die no one really cares how much money you had or how you succeeded in life. But they’ll remember if you were a good person.”
Grit NEW PODCAST
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YOUR NEWSLETTER WINTER 2022
It takes grit to recover and build a new life from the ground up. It takes humility to publicly share details of life in addiction. It takes strength to use your experience to help others and that's exactly what our first three guests have done. Scan the QR code below to hear their uncensored, unvarnished stories on our new podcast GRIT - Real Recovery. We're posting new episodes quarterly on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you can 'follow' on your preferred platform. EPISODE ONE: "Incomprehensibly Demoralizing" - Abraham EPISODE TWO: "Down the Rabbit Hole" - Sean EPISODE THREE: "Show Up" - Keith
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