02/25/2025
Attending the Blount County Recovery Court graduation ceremony was not what I had planned for my evening. I was asked by an employee if I would go with her and I did so reluctantly. This amazing young lady attends most every graduation. She supports her recovery friends and coworkers. She is a shining example of what this program can do for the recovery community.
I learned that the graduates had paid over $40,000.00 in fines and penalties . That if they had been incarcerated, instead of being allowed to go through recovery court, it would have cost over 2 million dollars to house them . Instead, these participants attended meetings, got jobs, were drug screened , and had expectations of what they had to do to remain in the recovery program.
I heard stories about the graduates and how they worked the program so that they could get out of their past and have a better future. How they’ve rebuilt relationships with their families, got and maintained jobs, graduated from halfway houses, got their own places to live, and more importantly than anything, stayed clean. Several said that through the help of staff members, they are still here! There are so many stories of success if we just take the time to listen.
I left the graduation feeling very humbled and thankful that our county takes addiction recovery seriously! That they know the value of the people they serve and that everyone deserves a second (sometimes third) chance.
No one wakes up every morning wanting to stay an addict. No one when asked what they want to be when they grow up says an addict. No one thinks that the first time they use that they are going to put themselves in the throes of addiction.
Thank you Brandi for asking me to join you! It was my honor to learn more about the program that helped you find yourself! It was also a pleasure to know that GEAR had two employees that graduated last night! We are so very thankful for the roles that you, Kevin, and Hunter have played in the success of our CARES program .
If you are an employer that knows the importance of second chances, reach out to us and we will help you find the best fit for your company!
GEAR Up and support recovery in your community!
