LUCILLE RAINES

RESIDENCE, INC.

(non profit organization)

 Jim Q.— Around the first of the year, we at Lucille Raines hope to have a new video. Jim, a current resident, agreed to help with the video. Jim has been at Lucille Raines for over two years, and during that time, he has seemed to finally grasp what recovery is about after trying it his way several times. Unlike so many of our residents. Jim says he is willing to take his time — the first year he was here, he just about bought a house. At the time, it seemed like the thing to do; now he realizes it just wasn’t the time for that — he needed to continue to be a part of a structured environment if this recovery thing was going to continue to work for him. Jim is a car salesman with five grown children who are constant challenges for him even now. He was what is called a “functioning addict”; he was able to work at his job on a daily basis. However, the alcohol was taking over his life. His bottom came when his significant other and his children were trying to figure out how to do an “intervention” with him. (That is when a person’s support group gets together and confronts the addict with the fact that their life is out of control even though that person is in strong denial.) It was at that time he realized he was putting himself and the people who loved him through a living hell. He was on a straight path to self-destruction. It was then he decided that if people loved him enough to go through that for him, it was his responsibility to do something about his drinking. He started out at Progress House, a halfway house and then came to Lucille Raines a three-quarter-house. He continues to attend meetings (although not as many as he would like sometimes) and works his 12-step program. He has learned how to deal with some of the depression that has plagued him for years (he doesn’t have to drink to do that any more). After all this time, his significant other is still in his life, and he spends a lot of time with his children. His work performance improved almost immediately — he has been sales person of the month several times. With all the things going on in his life, Jim realizes he needs Lucille Raines for a little while longer — when he can’t get to a meeting, he comes home to a “family” of recovering people — there is always someone to talk to and with about recovery. Jim knows it will be time for him to move on in awhile, but for now, he happily calls Lucille Raines “home” and is so grateful to be a part of the Raines family. You can look forward to getting to know Jim better when you watch our video.

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"Every once in a while I drive by LRR and look up at the window of my old room . . . it brings back a very fond memory to me . . . everything — the sights and smells of that lobby — and that hasn’t changed over the course of the years”. — Dennis B.

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“I believe everyone really needs to experience a day or a night or something at LRR  . . . the experience at LRR has given me many things –– it’s like a part of my foundation, part of who I am today . . . Thank God for Lucille Raines and what it did in my life.” — Janet D.

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“Never believe that a few good people can’t change the world, for indeed, they (LRR) are the ones who do that daily . . . Again, I say thank you, Lucille Raines.” — Ramon H.

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"As far as Lucille Raines and the women, the United Methodist Women, if you ever stop doing what you’re doing, we’re in trouble . . . you’re a blessing and I pray that you don’t stop.” — Lawrence W.

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“It was there that I learned who I was. It was there that I was able to work on my own personal relationship with God. It was there that I was able to meet and make some real friends and build some lasting relationships.” — Deborah D.