OUR STORIES
Sarah
The Hilljack House has forever changed my life. I came to St. Louis straight from prison. I was in both of the halfway houses for women here. I knew I wasn't ready to be on my own. I hadn't even worked a recovery program before. I had been to meetings, but had not done any of the suggested things, mostly because I wasn't ready to. I was required to get a sponsor within 2 weeks of moving in. I did so and my life has changed so much through working the steps. I've rebuilt relationships with my family, including my children, which I thought were broken forever. I thank God, my program, and the Hilljack House for all these things.
Before coming here I was content, or so I thought, to be without friends. The women here didn't let that fly. They got me out of my "comfort zone" of being a loner. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer for the third time, there wasn’t a single lady who let me be isolated. Today I can say that I am a good friend, daughter, sister, and mother. Before coming here, I don't think I knew how to be any of those things, nor did I really want to. Now I know I have people in my life who look up to me and call me to talk about their own problems because I was able to share my own story. Two and a half years ago there wasn't anyone who looked up to me for anything, but now I'm a responsible and productive member of society.
Thanks to the Hilljack House, I was released from probation 2 years early and have had a job ever since. Even when changing jobs, I provide my employers with a 2 week notice, something I had never done before. I pay my child support every week, and as a result, I'm in the process of getting my driver’s license back. I haven't had one since 2012 because I wouldn't work to pay for it. I honestly probably wouldn't even have been concerned about the license if I hadn’t been encouraged to look into it. The Hilljack House has given me the drive to do the things I've needed to do so that I can be the best me possible. I'm beyond grateful for all they have done for me.
Nicole
A little over a year ago, I was homeless, no car, no job and I had no contact with my children or my family. All I could see in my foreseeable future was death. I was in the grips of my active addiction. Hopeless, desperate, and broken I found my way to the Hilljack House. I'm not sure why God guided me to this particular recovery house but today I'm so grateful he did. When I got here I didn't necessarily want to die, but I didn't want to go on living as I was. Willing to do anything it took to stay clean I moved into the Hilljack House. My world as I knew it changed. At first I was scared and uncomfortable. As time went on I began to feel at home. I embraced every suggestion given to me and started applying those suggestions into my life. The relationships I formed here with other recovering women have been life-changing. Today I have a good job that I go to everyday, a vehicle and a place I love to call home. I have my children and my family back in my life. Today I can say I love myself and actually mean it. The Hilljack House helped transform me from the broken little girl I was when I first walked in to the confident woman I am today.
Thank you Hilljack House for every opportunity you've given me. I will always be grateful.
Hilljack House Alumni
Watkins, Erica: President
Andrews, Liz
Anton, Kayla
Bauer, Larry
Bell, Julie
Blaine, Dayle
Brooks, Jarred
Brown, Melvin
Cahallan, Katie
Collier, Kevin
Corcoran, William
Dangling, Monica
Dreoge, Amanda
Farris, Brian
Gries, Taylor
Gruber, Jordan
Hemmingway, Randi
Henry, Deborah
Hildebrand, Hannah
Hoffman, Miles
Jamerson, Jamey
Jensen, Duyane
Kinlough, Sean
Kladky, Pamela
Kling, Daniel
Lee, Timothy
Logan, Mikel
McBride, Cathy
McCline, Kendell
McKenna, Jonathan
Nelson, Jessica
Nyland, Samantha
Pugh, Jennl
Ryffel, Angela
Scarpace, Jennifer
Schultz, Joshua
Skelton, Sarah
Smith, Crista
T, Daniel
Thomure, Randy
Vorhies, Dean
West, Melanie
White, Micheal
Whitehead, Kody