Hi friends,

September felt like one of those months where the little moments started adding up.

A man celebrating one year of sobriety. Another choosing to publicly declare his faith through baptism. Six men reaching a milestone that once may have seemed impossible. Women taking a day to explore, laugh, and make memories together. Men helping tear down a stage after a show. Sixteen people sitting together in church. A group of people willing to run, walk, ruck, bike, volunteer, and keep moving for 48 hours, not because 48 miles would change their own lives, but because they knew those miles could help change someone else's.

This is what recovery looks like. Not always dramatic. Not always easy. Sometimes it looks like getting out of bed and choosing the next right thing. Sometimes it looks like asking for help. Sometimes it looks like helping someone else. Sometimes it looks like laughing with the people you've come to call family. Recovery is built in these moments.

And September gave us a lot of moments worth celebrating.

SIX MEN. SIX STORIES. ONE YEAR.

This month, we celebrated our sixth man reaching one year of sobriety after coming through Comeback Recovery Homes.

Six men, six different stories, six lives that look different today because they kept choosing recovery.

A year doesn’t happen overnight; it’s built one day at a time. It’s constructed on the days when everything seems possible and on the days when simply surviving the day is a triumph. It’s built through accountability and difficult conversations, early mornings, and challenging decisions. It’s built on faith, friendship, community, and the unwavering determination to keep going. We’ve witnessed these men grow.

We've watched them rebuild relationships, rediscover purpose, take responsibility, laugh again, serve others, and begin imagining a future they may not have believed possible when they first walked through our doors.

So when we say six men have reached one year, we're not really talking about a number.

We're talking about six lives. And we're incredibly proud of every one of them.

THE FREEDOM OF COMMITMENT

On September 10th, we celebrated Joe Hill's one-year anniversary as House Manager at the D. McDougal House.

For the past year, Joe has shown up. Day after day. Not just as a House Manager, but as someone helping create a place where men can feel safe enough to be honest, supported enough to keep going, and challenged enough to grow.

Joe shared something that really stayed with us:

“Commitment means deciding that your future is more important than the temporary comfort of your past.”- Joe Hill

That is so true. Recovery requires a decision to keep moving forward. To stop leaving one foot in the past. To choose the person you're becoming over the person you used to be. Joe has spent the past year helping men do exactly that.

We're grateful for his commitment, his leadership, and the way he continues to show up.

Happy one year, Joe. We're grateful for you.

WHEN COMMUNITY BECOMES FAMILY

In August, the men of the D. McDougal House went to see Dr. Alexander's musical.

In September, they went back, not to watch, but to help tear down the set. It's a small thing.

But maybe that's the point. Recovery isn't only found in the big moments. It's found in learning to contribute, in helping someone else, and in showing up when nobody is applauding.

It's understanding that being part of a community means more than receiving from it.

It means giving something back. We're grateful for opportunities that allow our residents to experience both sides of community: being supported and becoming someone others can count on.

A DAY OF SUNSHINE, LAUGHTER & FRIENDSHIP

This month, the women of House of Hope took a trip to Rainbow Springs together.

They spent the day outside, enjoying one another's company and simply experiencing life together. These moments may seem ordinary, but for someone rebuilding their life, ordinary can be extraordinary. A day spent laughing with friends. A new memory. A place you've never been. A reminder that sobriety isn't just about what you're walking away from. It's about discovering everything you have to walk toward.

EIGHT STORIES OF RESTORATION

This month, we celebrated another baptism at the Church of Eleven22. One more person standing in front of a community and saying: "My story doesn't end where it began."

With this baptism, our program total reached eight baptisms. Eight declarations of faith and new beginnings. We don't take those moments lightly. Because we know what it means to walk through the darkness and wonder if anything can ever be different. Then, one day, you're standing in the water. And you're living a new beginning.

Eight baptisms. One God who restores.

SIXTEEN PEOPLE. ONE COMMUNITY.

During Saturated at the Church of Eleven22, sixteen members of our staff and homes gathered at church to worship, listen, and sit together, experiencing faith in community. For many of the people we serve, recovery encompasses more than just sobriety; it involves rebuilding relationships, finding purpose, discovering faith, and learning how to belong somewhere. These moments, whether it’s a house full of people, a meeting, or sixteen individuals walking through the doors of a church together, hold significant value.

📲 Instagram: @coe22

📺 YouTube: @TheChurchofEleven22

Facebook: The Church of Eleven22

THREE YEARS OF CHOOSING RECOVERY

This month, we celebrated Kristy’s remarkable milestone of three years in recovery.

While three years may seem like a significant number of days (1,095 to be exact), it’s more accurately measured by the choices she has made and the moments she has persevered through. It’s the difficult days and the beautiful days that have shaped her journey, the growth that goes unnoticed by others, and the transformation she has undergone into a person she never imagined herself to be.

We are incredibly proud of Kristy’s unwavering commitment and grateful for her continued presence in this community.

Three years have passed, and she continues to move forward with grace and determination.

A LIFE POURED OUT FOR OTHERS

September 25th was Chad Belger's birthday.

More than eight years ago, Chad made the decision to surrender, pursue sobriety, and surround himself with a community that would help him build a new life.

Today, that life is being poured back into others. He's a husband. An Army veteran. A firefighter. A fire instructor. A coach. A leader. A friend. And the founder of Recovery RX.

His story is one of the reasons this organization exists. Because a life rebuilt doesn't have to stop with the person who rebuilt it. It can become a life poured out for someone else.

Chad continues to believe in something simple: Recovery happens in community.

Happy birthday, Chad! We're grateful for your story, your leadership, and the countless people who have been impacted because you chose to share your comeback with others.

JAX 4X4x48- 48 MILES. 48 HOURS. ONE PURPOSE.

The 4th annual JAX 4x4x48 brought our community together to move for recovery, carry the weight, and show up for people who are ready for a different life.

-52 people participated in all, half, or part of the 48-hour challenge.

-15 people completed the entire 48 hours.

-$8,400+ raised to provide resources, support, and opportunities for people who come to us with nothing left but the desire to get clean and sober.

Every mile mattered. Every person who showed up mattered. Every dollar raised will help someone take their next step toward recovery. To everyone who ran, walked, rucked, biked, volunteered, donated, sponsored, encouraged, and kept showing up; thank you!!

You helped us prove that recovery doesn’t have to happen alone. This is what community looks like. This is what recovery looks like. This is what showing up looks like.

THE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP

We couldn't have done JAX 4x4x48 without the businesses and organizations that believed in what we were doing.

St. John's Recovery Place

We're grateful for St. John's Recovery Place for standing behind JAX 4x4x48 and supporting people beginning their journey toward recovery. They understand something we believe deeply: Recovery takes courage. And it takes community. Thank you for helping us make this event about more than the miles.

🌎Website: www.sjrp.com

📲 Instagram: stjohnsrecoveryplace

📘 Facebook: stjohnsrecoveryplace

Charlie Health

We're grateful for Charlie Health and their support of JAX 4x4x48. Their work to make meaningful mental health care more accessible through personalized treatment and peer connection aligns closely with our belief that healing happens in community. Thank you for helping create a space where people can find connection, support, and a path forward.

🌎Website: www.charliehealth.com

📲 Instagram: charliehealth

📘 Facebook: charliehealth

HBC Construction, Inc.

Building more than projects. Building community. We're grateful for HBC Construction, Inc. for supporting JAX 4x4x48. Their commitment to showing up, doing the work, and building something that lasts reflects the spirit of this challenge. Thank you for helping us build something that reaches far beyond 48 hours.

🌎Website: hbcconstr.com

📲 Instagram: hbcconstructionfl

📘 Facebook: HBC Construction, Inc.

October 16 | Scars Under the

Stars

This year's Scars Under the Stars event will help us expand the support and services we provide to our clients and our community.

We're working toward adding a dedicated Case Manager and Program Manager to provide individualized guidance, connect clients with essential resources, and help build a strong foundation for long-term recovery.

We're also working toward opening a client-run thrift store, creating immediate employment opportunities for people entering our program while helping them develop job skills, earn income, build confidence, and rediscover purpose.

We've already started collecting furniture, household items, and clothing, and we're excited about what's ahead.

Ways to help support:

• Purchase a ticket.
• Become a sponsor.
• Donate a silent auction item.
• Make a donation.
• Share the event.

Can't wait to see you there!