A success story through Unity Hall and the Recovery Connect Program
by Jenifer Fitch|Published April 3, 2019

My name is Karen. I embarked on recovery on 8/2009. A few months later, I was offered an opportunity to volunteer at Unity Hall. At this time, I was a single mother on Section 8, Unemployment, Medi-Cal, and Food Stamps. I served at Unity Hall for six months, followed by a 6-month job and another break in employment. I returned to Unity Hall to volunteer again until obtaining my current job. Volunteering at Unity Hall gave me a reason to get up every day, somewhere to be and, the ability to maintain a routine while unemployed. While volunteering at Unity Hall, I did data entry, money handling, inventory, maintenance, assisted people who needed basic needs resources, and facilitated a daily recovery education group. If I had not had a safe place to go in early recovery, when my future looked uncertain, I don’t know where I would be today.

I continue to utilize services at Unity Hall through their new Recovery Connect program when needed and continue to refer others to Recovery Connect for both services and volunteer opportunities. Today, I am off all public assistance, including Section 8. I have a good job and can provide for my son. I am truly self-sufficient. I am grateful to Unity Hall and Recovery Connect for all the resources and support that bought me to this time in my life.

-Karen S.