he had to do to get high. “I was just
hopeless and didn’t care. I thought I
was going to die high.” Then one day
Daniel landed at Volunteers of America
Southwest’s Amigos Sobrios addiction
treatment program. “Something
finally clicked, Volunteers of America
Southwest showed me a different way
to live, they gave me hope and made a
lasting impact.”
Daniel’s crowning achievement in his
newly found sobriety was when he
walked the daughter he previously left
behind down the aisle at her wedding.
“No drug has ever gotten me that
high,” he said. “If somebody like me,
who after 33 years of abusing drugs,
can become a forgiven father and a
productive member of society, I must
pay it forward. There is magic going
on at Volunteers of America’s Amigos
Sobrios, there’s a special sense of
purpose and spirituality in that house. I
am living proof of a miracle.”
Each year, Volunteers of
America Southwest serves over
8,000 individuals, children and
families in the areas of early
childhood education, addiction
services and behavioral health,
and veterans services in San
Diego County, San Bernardino,
Riverside and El Centro. The
organization helps homeless
veterans with disabilities achieve
self-reliance, aids men and
women in returning to their
families clean and sober, cares
for elders and those struggling
with mental health challenges and supports the futures of our community’s children
through education and overall family well-being. In 2018 alone, 4,858 people received
behavioral health treatment; of these, 2,417 were addiction treatment clients and over
522 families were able to find new, affordable housing.
Gerald McFadden, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Southwest, shared
with Giving Back Magazine, “I am often asked, ‘why does our organization exist?’
My reply without hesitation is that we exist so those who are emotionally broken and
without hope will know Volunteers of America will always have the light on for them.
We want to be there to help them on their journey to a more vibrant life.”
Supporters like you have helped to co-create thousands of life-changing success
stories. We encourage you to join us as we celebrate 123 years of serving those in
need. Please consider a $123 dollar donation to help people like Daniel change their
lives through the many remarkable programs and services of Volunteers of America
Southwest. Please visit www.voasw.org/donate and helps us transform lives from
vulnerable to vibrant.
Daniel’s story is inspiring; the work
he put in alongside the dedicated
staff members, transformed his life
from vulnerable to vibrant. But there
are thousands of others who are still
struggling. People who just need a
helping hand to walk alongside them.
For people like Daniel, Volunteers of
America Southwest wants to be that
helping hand.
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