Recovering Drug Addicts Receive Gifts To Give As Part of Therapy
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
Updated: December 12, 2012
They may have arrived empty handed, but these men and women are in for a big surprise.
This group of recovering drug addicts has been given much more than a gift certificate.
They've been given a second chance.
"Right now this is a way that they can send something back and put some closure and put some peace and it may reconcile some relationships that were torn and broken," said Ray Sandoval, Dir. of the Abilene Dream Center.
Ryan Shwartz isn't taking this opportunity lightly.
"I feel very blessed and very thankful ," said Shwartz.
He's using it as a way to make amends with the ones he hurt the most while he was addicted to painkillers.
"Last year wasn't able to do that because i was on drugs pretty bad and id work and spend most of my money on drugs," he said.
It will be the first time he sees his family since his recovery.
So as he browses through handbags and other items, he wants to make sure he gets his mom the perfect gift.
Giving is actually a crucial part of his recovery.
"It may do so much more than just an awesome purse or just a wallet, it may bring people back together," said Sandoval.
Which is one reason why Susan Chapman, who owns the Junk Warehouse and gave each of the 12 men and women a gift certificate to her store, didn't have to think twice about pitching in to help.
"Because I've worked with several of the men from the Abilene Dream Center and they have come and volunteered here and they were wonderful," she said.
Now that that their bags are full they're not only leaving with plenty of Christmas presents, they're also leaving with a new sense of hope.
Anyone can be a part of one of these men and women's lives by sponsoring them with a start up kit.
It's a way to help people like Ryan have the resources they'll need to not only recover but continue giving back even after their rehab is over.
If you're interested in helping, you can contact the Abilene Dream Center at their website, http://abilenedreamcenter.com/ or like their Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/dreamcenter1.
