2004 Letter
November
Greetings from Minneapolis where we await the onset of fall,
winter, and the change of wardrobe. Yesterday, I talked to
a young man from Louisiana who is coming to our program, and
he asked what he should bring for clothing (he had heard the
stories of “wind chill”). After I gave him the
list (scarf, earmuffs, mittens, boots, long underwear, and
down jacket), I thought to myself, “how do we walk about
with all those coverings on?” We must look like waddling
penguins.
Now, a Thanksgiving story. Crossroads had an urgent need
to replace the leaking roof of our building… just ask
those residents who put out the buckets. Over the years, we
had patched and tried to reseal where we could, but all roofs
have a lifespan and ours was past due. Then a miracle happened.
The day before Thanksgiving, I met with a man who told me
that he had contacted several companies involved in the roofing
business and that they had decided to make a donation of a
new roof to Crossroads, valued at $60,000. Can you imagine
my utter amazement and overwhelming gratitude? What a day
of thanksgiving!
Unfortunately, our 42 year old building has many other such
repairs and replacements that are required. Many of our furnishings
for the resident rooms are worn out and need to be replaced.
The leaking roof had taken its toll on the interior and exterior
walls. In order to raise the necessary funds ($600,000) to
meet these needs, we have started a capital campaign. Last
December, we had our first time ever Crossroads Gala Benefit.
What a great event! We had a silent and live auction, a lovely
dinner, and danced to the Rockin’ Hollywoods. Everyone
from current and past residents to friends of the ‘Roads
gathered together to rejoice in our long history of serving
the recovering addict. I am delighted to report that we raised
over $31,000 that evening. We are now planning for another
such event on January 22, 2005. Be certain to mark your calendars
and watch for your formal invitation.
In these ever-changing times, there is one thing that has
remained constant - Crossroads Aftercare. Individuals leaving
primary treatment centers for drug addiction MUST have a safe,
supportive place to live while they adjust to a life of sobriety.
Make no mistake, staying sober is only one piece of the puzzle.
Most recovering addicts are dealing with a multitude of issues.
Some suffer from untreated depression, anxiety, or bipolar
disorder and turn to alcohol or other drugs in an attempt
to self-medicate. Regrettably, the result is becoming addicted
to the substance with no help for the other symptoms. To find
a way out of the madness and turmoil of this disease requires
the right setting, being surrounded by the right people, and
receiving professional care. I believe that Crossroads is
that place. It is a home-like residence providing ongoing
professional counseling to residents, their families, and
significant others as well as on-site support groups. The
key is providing these necessary services without making it
feel like an institution. I believe we have done that. Those
who come here soon refer to Crossroads as “home.”
While I cannot ignore the “bricks and mortar”
part of Crossroads, I also have to deal with the daily operation
of the program itself. If we are at full occupancy and all
residents pay their program fees on time, life is good. However,
this is not always the case. For many of our residents, it
is a difficult struggle to regain financial stability. Many
have to deal with low wages, past debts, and a lack of basic
money management skills. Our reality is that 86% of our revenue
comes from program fees. The remaining 14% ($30,000) is from
individual donations. There are no other funds available from
federal, state, or county. We rely on the benevolence of people
such as you to help us as we reach out to help others. I ask
that you please consider a gift to Crossroads so that we can
continue to offer a safe home and supportive services to the
recovering addict at a time when they need it the most.
I want to give a special thanks to our Crossroads Alumni
who stand as role models to those searching for a way out
of the cycle of addiction. Their personal journeys and experiences
are so helpful to the recovery process. I am grateful to each
for their contribution of time and service.
“Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn’t
people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them.”
~ Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
Fondly,
Sharron Johnson
Executive Director |
