On February 24, Grace & Mercy will celebrate its 7th Annual Graduation & Fundraiser, nursing three women from incarceration, addiction and potential homelessness to a healthy rebirth into society.
During Thursday’s convening of the Kiwanis Club of Hopkinsville, Executive Director Joanna Mack provided an in-depth look at the organization’s efforts, which hopefully culminates in this graduation.
Through months of efforts from trained professionals and an army of volunteers, women looking to renegotiate and recollect their lives spend hours targeting the perils of drug use, the necessary strings with anger management, the unfurling of deep psychosis and psychology, and the utter hopelessness that often comes with personal failure.
With all of this, comes a strong religious message and teachings from the Holy Bible.
Four women provided strong testimonials during Thursday’s luncheon, giving some intimate detail in the process of going from broken to better.
Kayla is from Ohio County, and has been with Grace & Mercy for eight months. Before, she had been incarcerated for 18 months — admittedly living in darkness mentally and physically. She’s gotten her GED, is rebuilding a relationship with her mother and brother, has a job she truly enjoys, and will soon be enrolling in cosmetology classes.
Kayla met Mack while in jail.
LeeAnn, a 38-year-old from Ohio County, has also been in the program for eight months. She was living a life she was really ashamed of, and said she didn’t want to talk much about, but that she didn’t have to identify with it anymore. She’s a new person. A mother of five children, they’re coming to visit her this weekend. She works full time at Chick-Fil-A while working through classes, and she’s glad she’s reconnecting with family.
Incarceration is a common way women come into the program, and Mack noted that judges from Allen County-Scottsville all the way to McCracken County have referred cases to her doors — as have judges from California, Louisiana and Mississippi.
But sometimes families stage interventions. Andrea is one such example. She’s been with the program for the last 30 days. She had a career and a family, and a 15-year-old daughter. But she says she let herself fall into the trap of “the enemy,” and struggled two years with addiction.
Her mother and brother reached out, and put her in Mack’s rehabilitative routine.
Michelle, from Cadiz, has already graduated from the program. But after a relapse, she didn’t have anywhere else to turn.
Enter Mack and her staff, who have recently created a “Regenerate” program for those who once were on board, but perhaps lost their way.
Mack said 37 children are currently being impacted by mothers in the program, in what is an entirely different impact altogether.
Those interested in next Thursday’s virtual fundraiser can register at graceandmercyky.org/register-2022. The program’s robust thrift store and fudge & coffee shop, “Gracefully Sweet,” can be found on Fort Campbell Boulevard. A thrift annex can also be found in Elkton.
