“The busiest time of the year.” As the development director of Prodigals Community, a 12-month residential substance-recovery program for men and women, I’m slammed this time of the year raising funds.
When a few residents in the Prodigals choir asked me if we could go Christmas caroling, I was the “Scrooge” and thought I would be out at night, tired and cold. Before I could come up with an answer to why this was not possible, a resident said to me, “Dianne, I want to give back to this community that supports Prodigals and has given me the chance to turn my life around.” Jessie F. went on to explain to me that “Prodigals Community has shown me that life is worth living without drugs and alcohol.” Jessie has been homeless most of his life. “Many, many nights I wished I would not wake up — and now I am at peace and blessed to have a family in Prodigals. The staff and my brothers and sisters at Prodigals have shown me I am a worthwhile person.”
Michael, another resident trying to convince me — Scrooge — that we should go out caroling, said that he used to never think about giving back to society. But, Michael said, Prodigals has helped him more than he ever thought possible — “I find myself wanting to put others before me.”
One of the wonderful blessings of working with the residents of Prodigals is to see so many changes in their lives — not just the obvious change of being drug free, but the emotional changes.
Thus, after feeling very selfish for my initial reluctance, I was delighted to arrange caroling. Once the rest of the residents in the choir heard about it, they were ecstatic. One resident was concerned that our assorted crew might startle a few homeowners as we came knocking on their doors. So we made a trip to the fabric store to buy some red felt for scarves and found Santa hats and a few reindeer antlers to spruce up our caroling attire.
“On a cold winter’s night,” we all dressed and headed out in our one-horse open sleigh (a.k.a. the work van) to Arbor Acres. The chaplain of Arbor Acres, Doug Suggs, invited us to perform for the Wednesday night services. Sally Dunlap, the program coordinator of Prodigals, led the choir in our caroling.
The Prodigals choir handed out Christmas cards designed by Jessie to the ladies and gentlemen for whom we performed. As the residents gave out the cards, I didn’t see addicts in recovery dressed in Santa hats and reindeer antlers, but men and women who had been changed by the power of others who cared enough to not give up on them — our community that cares for those in need that do not have the financial ability to pay for a recovery program.
We then loaded back into our sleigh and visited homes in Arbor Acres. After we caroled at Wendell Stockton’s home, he told us this had “made his Christmas,” words that surrounded us with joy. At Rev. Ellen Yarborough’s home, she asked us to come inside to carol. She then entertained us with a Christmas story.
The time went by way too quickly and I — reformed Scrooge — decided we would do it all again next week. Tuesday, we will put our Santa hats and antlers back on and go out into local neighborhoods. The Prodigals’ community executive director, Sally Dudley Harper, is an inspiration to both staff and residents with her enthusiasm and encouragement. Sally will be out with her Santa hat as we hope to return the joy and hope that has been given to Prodigals.
Reflecting on our evening, one resident summed it all up: “We have been given a miracle of yet one more chance to change our lives and live drug free. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to give to others — another miracle for me.”
Dianne Dawson Garrett is the development director of Prodigals Community.
The Journal
welcomes original submissions for guest columns on local, regional and statewide topics. Essay length should not exceed 750 words. The writer should have some authority for writing about his or her subject. Our e-mail address is: Letters@wsjournal.com. You may also mail a typed essay to: Letters to the Journal, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Include your name, address and telephone number.
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