Hope. Compassion.
Commitment.

Jason's Success Story

From shelter to thriving — how believing in someone changed everything.

When we started volunteering at the John Street Bridge in Bridgeport, CT, we didn't know many people. With the help of Donut Crazy in Shelton, CT, we were able to hand out donuts every Sunday. The very first time we did this, we knew we had to come back.

As the weeks went by, we earned the trust of people who trusted no one. We knew their names, their stories, their hardships. We listened — they knew they could talk to us when others never gave them the time of day.

One cold morning, we met a young man named Jason. He was living in the local shelter, trying to find work to support his two little girls. He had very little hope. Loss and despair were written in his eyes. I thought, 'What can I do for him? How can I help?' Jason had so much to offer and so much to live for, yet he couldn't see any of it.

I asked him, 'Jason, do you have a resume?' He said, 'No, not yet, can you help me?' I said yes, BUT — 'This is what YOU need to do first.' I told him to get a sample together and gave him resources: the Library, or CCAR where they have computers. Normally I would have done it for him, but something told me NO. He had to want this. He had to do this on his own.

He agreed, and the following Sunday, Jason was waiting for us with excitement. He walked right up and gave me his four-page resume. When I looked in his eyes, the hope and willingness were back. My sister Jodi and I reviewed it that week and turned it into one powerful page.

The next Sunday, when I handed him his polished resume, Jason was brought to tears. I hugged him and said, 'Now we find you a job!'

One of our Hope For Recovery members was the Sales Manager at Jaguar Land Rover in Fairfield, CT. He needed a Lot Attendant and spoke with Jason, who was hired that very day. It's been almost a year now. Jason is thriving at his job, goes out of his way for everyone, has rented a studio apartment, and sees his little girls so much more.

This is why we do what we do. If we can help one person, that's all that matters. Please don't give up on someone. We always tell our friends at the bridge: JUST ASK. This is one story of many to come.