The holiday season is here and while some of our Clay County families are decorating, baking delicious sweets, and getting their houses ready for festivities, others are spending this time preparing for a new year and a second chance at a hopeful, stable life.
Willa is a Leslie County native and is currently a resident of Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA) Freedom House – a nationally recognized recovery program that supports pregnant and parenting mothers overcoming addiction.
A unique and critical component to the program’s effectiveness is that Freedom House allows mothers to bring any and all of their children 17 years or younger with them to treatment, enabling them to find recovery without leaving their kids behind. Willa entered the program in June and brought two of her children with her, seven-year-old Rene, and four-year-old Janie.
“We didn’t have this program years ago when I had my kids, and there’s a lot of moms out there that don’t know it exists,” Willa said.
Before Freedom House, Willa struggled with substance use disorder for most of her life.
“If it was selling drugs or using, that’s what I was raised to think I had to do,” she said. “My mom and dad stayed in and out of prison. All my family are convicts, so that’s all I really knew.”
Now at 40-years-old, Willa found the support she needed to take back her life. The structured program keeps Willa’s days busy with classes, therapy, and chores to help her establish a routine and create a stable life for herself and her children.
“They pretty much help you do anything you need to do to prepare you for the outside,” she said. “And it’s homey. They make you feel good about yourself. They’re focused a lot on self-care.”
Willa graduates from the program on December 29. As she works with VOA’s team to prepare for a sober, successful future, Rene and Janie are excited to spend the holidays at Freedom House.
“It’ll be the first good Christmas that we’ve had in a long time,” Willa said.
The families took Christmas pictures together, and VOA staff have arts and crafts and other festive activities planned to make this holiday season special for the families.
VOA is committed to ensuring the people they serve can enjoy the holiday season. Their annual Hope for the Holidays campaign works to support families like Willa’s this time of year so they can spend less time worrying about gifts for their children and instead focus on their recovery journey.
This year, Janie is hoping to get an L.O.L. Dollhouse, and Rene wants Legos or an Army tank toy. All the children served by VOA will benefit from winter clothing, personal hygiene items or a Walmart gift card.
Donations can be dropped off at VOA’s Recovery Community Center located at 48 Owens Road, or at VOA Family Recovery Court program located at 219 Main Street.
Visit www.voamid.org/holidays to learn more about Hope for the Holidays and how you can help Janie, Rene, and the nearly 500 families VOA serves have a joyous holiday season.
The Manchester Enterprise, December 11, 2024
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