Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008

Redwood Family Center gives gift of time to rebuild

Women trying to escape addiction to drugs or alcohol, and to reclaim their families, get help through the Redwood Family Center.

The center, operated by Inter-Faith Ministries, offers a clean and sober living environment for women and children, said Inter-Faith executive director Lynis Chaffey.

"Many of our women have lost their children, and RFC allows them a safe place to heal and recover while focusing on their needs and the needs of their families," Chaffey said in an e-mail. The center offers women the opportunity to reunite with their children "in a structured environment as they rebuild their lives and recover from the devastating effects of the disease of addiction."

The center is not an overnight shelter; it is a transitional home for women who need more than a week or two to get it together. Women can live there for up to two years, as long as they're drug free, sober, abiding by the rules and making progress.

Among those getting help at the center is Christina Wittman, mother of a 2-year-old and an infant. Wittman dropped of of college when she started taking drugs. She is working on her recovery and returning to Modesto Junior College to continue her studies in sociology.

Inter-Faith Ministries, which opened the center in January 2003, has been providing food and clothing to the needy for 35 years.

Like other nonprofit organizations, the center -- and Inter-Faith in general -- has suffered with the economic crisis. Chaffey said her group has struggled to raise money through the private sector, and county and state funding sources also aren't providing as much money as in the past.

Some of those who go through the center are referred by Stanislaus County, which helps pay for their costs, but others have no means of support.

The center boasts of its success stories; for instance, former graduates have pursued careers in nursing and psychology.

"Know that every dollar makes a meaningful difference in the lives of the women and children we are blessed to serve," Chaffey said.