Saturday, August 29, 2015

How it Works

Every so often someone gives me credit for what we do for addicts at TLC.  It's usually a business person or a resident's family member.
 It'll be something like how wonderful I am because I help others change their lives.  Or how smart I am for putting this project together.  The compliments take various forms.
And my addict ego wants to soak it all up.  Instead, this is  when I have a chance to tell them  how TLC really works.  
It's true that I came up with the idea for TLC in 1991.  But the people who make TLC function today are the 100 plus addicts who allow the program to operate as smoothly as it does.
We have district managers.  House managers.  Assistant Managers. Drivers. Night security.  Cooks.  Mechanics.  Maintenance people.  Construction crews.  Phone solicitors.  Intake and filing clerks.  Office managers.  A hotel manager.  Store clerks and managers.  Accountants. A donation solicitor.  Labor company staff. Corporate staff.  The list goes on, but this gives an idea of the team it takes to run TLC.
Some of those above have been with us for between ten and 20 years.  They've dedicated their lives to this project and have helped thousands in the process.
And if you ask them what they get in return for their hard work they'll say that the main thing they have to show for it is their recovery.  And that’s something they never had before.