Jacob
The downward spiral in Jacob’s life was rooted in emotional pain and fueled by drugs. Eventually it resulted in his arrest and imprisonment. When he was released from the Cole County jail in Jefferson City, he walked steadily for 17 hours to seek the help and support of New Day Columbia (then called Turning Point). Step by step, he began a journey to “take his life back.” Today he has a full-time job, a home of his own, a drug-free, healthy lifestyle, and a heart full of gratitude.
"I want to share a story about losing someone I loved, struggling with pain, making mistakes, and finding the strength to rebuild my life with the help of this community.
My journey began with the loss of my mother. Watching her battle cancer and eventually pass away was one of the hardest things I have ever experienced. My mother was someone I loved deeply, someone I looked up to, and someone I never imagined having to live without. Losing her left an emptiness in my heart that I didn’t know how to fill.
After she passed away, I struggled to understand how to move forward. I had so many emotions running through me—sadness, anger, confusion, and loneliness. There were days when I didn’t know how to deal with the pain. I missed my mother and wished I could talk to her one more time, hear her voice, or receive one more hug.
Instead of facing my grief in a healthy way, I began turning to drugs. At the time, I thought they would help me escape my feelings. I wanted to stop thinking about the pain, even if only for a little while. But what I thought would bring me relief eventually became another struggle in my life.
My drug use developed into addiction, and I began losing control. The pain I was trying to escape did not disappear. Instead, I found myself dealing with even more problems. Addiction affected my choices, my relationships, and the way I viewed myself. There were times when I felt ashamed, lost, and unsure of how I would ever get my life back.
Looking back, I realize that I was carrying a lot of pain that I did not know how to express. I was grieving my mother, and I did not have the tools I needed to cope with that loss. I made bad choices that hurt me, but deep down, I still wanted a better life. I just did not know how to get there.
That is when the support of this community began to make a difference. There were people who saw more in me than my addiction. They did not define me by my mistakes or judge me only by the struggles I was facing. They offered me encouragement, support, and opportunities for me to get the help I needed. They reminded me that I was not alone and that my life still had value.
Their support helped me realize that asking for help was not a sign of weakness. It was a sign that I was ready to fight for myself and my future.
Recovery was not something that happened overnight. I had to make difficult decisions, face emotions I had been trying to avoid, and learn new ways to deal with stress and grief. I had to be honest with myself and accept that I could not change my past, but I could change the direction of my life.
With the help and support of my community, the support of others, and my commitment to recovery, I began to take my life back. I worked toward overcoming my addictions and learning to live without depending on drugs to cope with my emotions. Little by little, I began to see that there was still hope for me.
Today, I am proud of how far I’ve come. My journey has taught me that recovery is about more than giving up drugs. It is about learning to love yourself again, finding healthy ways to cope with pain, accepting support, and believing that you deserve another chance.
I will always miss my mother. Nothing can replace her, and losing her will always be part of my story. But I no longer want grief to be the reason I give up on myself. Instead, I want to use what I have been through as a reminder of how strong I can be and how much life is still worth living.
I also recognize that I did not get here alone. The people in this community helped me when I needed it the most. Their kindness reminded me that even when you feel broken, there are other people who are willing to help you put the pieces back together.
If there is one thing I want everyone to take away from my story, it is this: never give up on yourself, and never give up on someone who is still struggling.
You never know what someone is going through behind closed doors. Sometimes the person who seems the most lost is carrying pain they do not know how to explain. A little compassion, a listening ear, and the right support can make a difference that lasts a lifetime.
I cannot change the fact that I lost my mother, and I cannot erase the mistakes I made along the way, but I can choose to keep moving forward, to protect the progress I have made, and to build a future that reflects the person I want to be.
My story is not just about loss or addiction. It is about hope, second chances, and the power of people coming together to help someone recover.
I am still here. I am still growing, and I am grateful for the opportunity to live a healthier life and show that recovery is possible."
Big thank yous go out to the staff of:
—New Day Columbia
—Room at the Inn, In2Action, and Fresh Start
—Callaway County Jail
—Probation & Parole for Boone & Callaway Counties
—Callaway County Drug Court
—Treatment Court Commissioner Clevenger and Attorney Popplewell
—Compass Health, Berrywood Clinic
Vence
Vence has been part of New Day Columbia for nearly three years, working 20 hours a week while managing his health and staying clean. Music is one of his biggest passions; he loves blasting his favorite songs in his car and sharing this sound with others.
New Day Columbia has been central to Vence’s journey. It provided him with stability when he was struggling with housing and helped him find purpose through volunteering and work. The day center is more than just a job; it’s a place where he can give back, see others succeed, and continue his own path toward recovery.
“I had a good childhood. No abuse, and spankings were valid. My parents kept food on the table and us dressed. But at 15, I first smoked marijuana. I thought I’d never do anything else, but I experimented. And the choice I made was to keep doing it. I hit some lows; my family didn’t trust me, job issues, housing issues. I always tried to keep a job so I could have my drug. Eventually, stuff fell apart. I just got tired.
I was late into harder stuff like crack cocaine. I tried it when I was 28. At first, it didn’t take hold. It was expensive, and I knew I could buy weed for a month with the same kind of money. But it spiraled. I found myself chasing that high for 20 something years, on and off. I got into legal trouble, lost jobs, and lost stability. It felt like fighting a losing battle; like going in the ocean and getting in a rip current.
I came to Columbia for Mobley, stayed at Harbor House and the Salvation Army. I was selective about my using because I didn’t want to get kicked out. They helped me get a housing voucher, but I lost it a year later because of doing stupid stuff to get drugs. I lost my apartment and became homeless. My funds ran out quickly while I stayed at Welcome Inn for about eight months and depleted my savings. Eventually, I got into public housing at Oak Towers, and I’ve been there ever since as I kept cleaning up my act.
That’s how I got to New Day Columbia. I still didn’t know much about it, but someone said, ‘There’s a pastor here. The church would probably help you.’ After I got some help, I went upstairs to see what they did and how they ran things. I would come to Darren and ask, ‘What do I need to do to get a job here?’ He told me they hire people who show initiative and who volunteer. He was adamant about that. So I volunteered, sitting in different areas he wanted me to, and eventually a spot opened up. He said, ‘I got a job for you if you want it.’ That’s been almost three years now.
I always tell people here, ‘you have to get tired of what you’re going through.’ I can speak for myself because I’m an ex-addict. You get tired of doing the same thing over and over, expecting it to change. It doesn’t. I wasn’t raised like this. I just fell in the hole and kept digging. When I got fed up, that’s when things changed. I don’t look down on anyone here because I know what it’s like. I love seeing the success stories that come out of this place. Some people have passed, at least 25 that I’ve seen, and that’s hard. But others come in at their lowest, and a year later, they’re working, getting their life back. That’s what drives me, seeing that success.
I’ve been married three times. My first marriage was young. We didn’t last long. But last year, I reconnected with her. We hadn’t seen each other in over 30 years. Now we’re back together, and we plan to get married again next year. Addiction is what drove us apart to begin with. I was still using, she wanted me home clean and sober but I just couldn’t do that. I was selfish. I quit my job, lost money, lost our place. We just grew apart more every day. I’m just thankful to have her back.
I have two boys, 26 and 27. Our relationship has improved over the last few years. They saw what happened to me and their mom and they made up their minds early: ‘I don’t want to do that. I’m not gonna be like that.’ They had a lot of resentment towards me because I missed practices and games and important stuff just to get high. But they’ve done well now and I’m proud of ‘em.
Helping people at New Day Columbia helps me too. Some of my lows haven’t been as low as them… I stayed above water, barely, but I give those guys the utmost respect. Sometimes all it takes is giving someone a kind word or a little advice. We try to meet the person where they’re at, even though they need that type of assistance, we try to learn how they operate.
Outside of this, I love music. I have subs in my car. It’s loud. I didn’t have it growing up, and now that I’ve got my sanity back, I’m doing all the things I didn’t get to do before and I’m in a great place. I don’t take the small moments for granted. Credit’s over 700 now… it’s those little things, you know, I find joy out of that. I keep in mind that if I ever go back to using, I may not make it out. I love myself and the life I have now. It’s a no-brainer. Why did I even start in the first place?”
