Daniel had a tough journey from his very first steps. Raised by an alcoholic father, he began experimenting with drugs while still in school, a habit that followed him into adulthood. With little faith in God, Daniel relied on his own wits and talents to create a better life for himself. He went to college, worked hard and started a family of his own.

Daniel’s life was shattered when his wife left him. Suddenly the single father of a two-year-old boy, Daniel picked up the pieces and kept going. He built a successful career and poured his love and energy into raising his son. However, Daniel had a secret. A self-described “weekend warrior,” he was still using drugs.

When Daniel entered his 50s, his health declined and he lost his job. But his biggest adjustment was being alone. His son was grown and living on his own. Then, Daniel lost both his parents. Lonely, grieving, with little to fill his days, he fell deeper into addiction. “I was enjoying it at first,” he says. “Then it just took over. Nothing I could do about it.”

Daniel’s journey took a dangerous turn. He began dealing drugs to support his habit. After being incarcerated, he made an effort to get clean and even joined a recovery program. But an unhealthy relationship with a partner who also used made staying sober even harder. He relapsed and was arrested a second time.

Upon his release, Daniel faced a sobering reality: he had nowhere to go. He remembered a friend who had turned his life around through the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. “I called him and said, ‘Man, I’m on skid row here. I don’t know what to do.’ He said, ‘They got a good program over there.’”

During the six months Daniel spent in our men’s recovery program, he stayed sober, got close to God, and started rebuilding his life. He now looks toward the future with hope — possibly returning to MRM as a volunteer, reconnecting with his family and being a steady, loving presence in his grandson’s life.

“I’m so grateful that you keep this program alive for me, the people who have gone through it and in the future.” that you keep this program alive.” – Daniel