Donald’s Story
When Donald B. was a boy, life was good even though his mother had left him to be raised by his grandfather. His grandfather was a kind man who taught him the value of hard work. When Donald was 13, his grandfather died and he was sent to live with his mother and a very abusive stepfather. He left that home at the age of 15, already a regular user of drugs and alcohol.

Remembering the teachings of his grandfather, Donald graduated from high school, even though it meant living part of the time in a car. He worked and earned an associate’s degree in electronics, then joined the Navy. Donald said that it was easy to be an addict in the military. After the service he landed a job with a landscaping company in Roswell, Georgia, where he progressed from a laborer to a foreman in six short weeks and took night classes at his employer’s expense at Kennesaw College. Donald became a Certified Georgia Nurseryman. However, 20 years of one treatment program after another had no effect on him; he says that he never admitted to the fact that he had a disease—addiction.

Donald was now on crack cocaine, but he was sick and tired and at the end of his rope. One day he decided that if he was going to live, he had to make some major life decisions, and ended up at the Gateway Center in downtown Atlanta. He was referred from Gateway to the detox program at the Veteran’s Administration, where he was diagnosed with severe mental and physical problems as a result of his substance abuse. Now that his problems were identified, it was time to put his life back together. He entered Hope House, a transitional housing program developed by Progressive Redevelopment, Inc., and operated by CaringWorks, Inc., PRI’s resident services affiliate, determined to succeed.

Hope House requires that its residents be responsible for their “home.” Donald did what the Hope House staff asked of him, exactly and to the letter. He did cleaning chores in addition to those assigned to him and made a large personal investment in his “home.” He took a special interest in the garden, not telling anyone that he had been trained in horticulture—just that with some tools and plants he could make a difference. He made a detailed list of his gardening needs which the Hope House staff was able to provide through a donation from Home Depot. The Hope House garden, located in the inner courtyard, is now a beautiful place, and a reason for the men at the residence to be proud of their surroundings and find meaning in their lives.

Donald says that at Hope House he learned to process his feelings and to build a network of people to look to for support. He says, “I’m building integrity about me. My reality is not everyone else’s. I owe a debt that I can never repay. I’ve been given another chance at life.” Donald truly embraces these feelings. He says he doesn’t believe in good and bad luck, he only believes in preparation and opportunities. He says, “I choose to do good, not for kudos, but for God.”

Donald has graduated from Hope House and is now living independently in an apartment community where he, you guessed it, has begun working on a community garden! Donald is a man who takes personal ownership of the place where he lives. Donald is a contributor. He says, “I came to Hope House with a lot of hope. I have left with a lot of faith!”

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