The holiday season is here, and a local nonprofit, Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA), is asking for the community’s support to ensure the families they serve can enjoy this time of year.
In Clay County and throughout southeast Kentucky, VOA provides recovery support for individuals struggling with substance use disorder and works to reunite families broken apart by addiction. Keshea, a 29-year-old mother of four, experienced first-hand how these services can change lives.
When she was 12, Keshea was molested by a family member, and as a young teen she turned to substances to cope with her trauma. She spent the next 10 years struggling with addiction, trying recovery at times but never maintaining sobriety. It wasn’t until she lost custody of her children that she realized she needed help to take back her life.
In March, Keshea found Freedom House, VOA’s nationally recognized recovery program for pregnant and parenting women. She entered the program with her 3-year-old twin boys, Michah and Isaiah. VOA’s licensed clinical therapists worked with Keshea and helped her understand the root cause of her addiction and take steps toward a stable, healthy life for herself and her children.
“I’m so blessed and grateful for what the VOA has done for me,” she said. “Without them, I don’t think I would have been able to function without drugs.”
Today, Keshea is enrolled in Family Recovery Court, another VOA program to help her continue to strengthen her sobriety. In this voluntary program, Keshea works with VOA, a team of social workers, and Family Court Judge Clint Harris to take steps toward becoming a responsible, sober parent and creating a safe, stable home for her children.
When she graduates from Family Recovery Court, she plans to return to her home in Lincoln County and go back to school to become a nurse. After she earns her degree, she wants to support other women struggling with addiction at the new Freedom House VOA is building in Stanford, Kentucky.
This year, Keshea, Micah and Isaiah are looking forward to enjoying the holiday season at Freedom House.
“This Christmas will be my first holiday sober in over four years,” she said. “I’ve been wanting to wear matching pajamas, watch a movie, drink hot chocolate, and eat cookies the night before Christmas. So, this year, my family will be doing that.”
Her older sons, Lincoln (10) wants a Nintendo Switch and Noah (9) wants Transformers action figures. Isaiah wants toy cars, and Micah wants anything involving Monsters Inc.
With the community’s support, VOA’s Hope for the Holidays campaign will provide essential winter clothing and personal hygiene items, and toys for the boys to enjoy.
Last year, the campaign uplifted more than 500 families like Keshea’s. This year, the organization hopes to support even more.
If you would like to join the effort, drop off donated items at VOA’s Recovery Community Center at 48 Owens Road, Manchester, KY 40962, or visit https://www.voamid.org/holidays/ to donate online.
Manchester Enterprise, December 3, 2025
