“Before Operation New Hope, I had a great job. I was bringing home over $2,000 per week, but I was always broke because of my $1,500 a week drug habit. I had a home, but I spent more time sleeping in my car. I was eventually arrested and spent a few months at the Clay County Jail. However, I had spent years incarcerated in my own mind because of my addiction. I was offered a path to freedom when drug court sentenced me to the program at Gateway. When I first entered recovery, I still wasn’t fully committed to getting sober. It was only when faced with being kick out of Gateway after three weeks that I realized that what I had been doing wasn’t working. Once I made the determination that I was helpless over my addition and completely turned myself over to God, that’s when the miracles started flowing.
“I started at Operation New Hope a week or two after leaving Gateway’s recovery program. All the support I received from the Ready4Work team is great, but for me the best part has been and continues to be my mental health counselor Krista. Support from a dedicated therapist has worked miracles for me.
“I am doing great now and have been at my job with AC Panda for two months. My AA sponsor Rasheed, who also went through the Ready4Work program, got me the job. The owner of the company is such a great guy. He’s also in recovery and has been so supportive and generous – he even gave me a car! He also sponsored Operation New Hope’s recent event, the Hope Starts Here 5k. He said he is called to giving people second chances because he knows how hard they are to come by in this world.
“My goal now is to go back to school. I’ve started the process to earn my AA degree and want to study to become a mental health counselor. I’m also looking into becoming a peer counselor at Gateway. It’s all about giving back. I find so much joy in working the steps and am truly happy to be sober. I’m finally free now.“
At Operation New Hope, we believe that we are all better than our worst mistake, worst day, or worst decision. We believe in people’s ability to transform their lives through commitment and hard work. We see it every day as we support our clients’ reentry and growth. With the skills learned and confidence gained from our Ready4Release, Ready4Work and Ready4Success programs, our participants go on to become productive community members and build successful careers earning living wages. Read more stories of transformation, success and hope!
We provide support, life and job skills training for people affected by the criminal justice system and place them in employment that offers a sustainable quality of life.
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1830 North Main Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32206
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