Hello, my name is Christine Collier, I reaching out for help. On Feb 8th, I decided to take a leap of faith and fly to Sacramento from Alabama for treatment. I was fast tracking my way into an early grave or to prison. I was living the only way I knew how to live. I have lived a rough life, to put it lightly. I was raised by my grandparents until I was 8 years old. I had never laid eyes on my mom until she decided she wanted to be a mother to impress her new husband. She showed up at my grandparents door, took me the next day and we moved to Alabama from Florida. My mother introduced me to alcohol at 9 and drugs at 11, I guess it was easier for her to "rent" me to random men if I was drunk and high. Against all odds I graduated high school and left for the University of Florida August of 98. In 2004 I graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts and Associates in criminal justice. My mother guilt tripped me the entire time while I was away for school. She would cycle through loving me, hating me, blaming me and belittling me. She claimed to have had a stroke and begged me to move home to take care of her. Worst mistake of my life. In spite of my addiction and alcoholism I landed a career in law enforcement, which my mother absolutely hated. She and my step father were well established drug dealers and hated law enforcement. Looking back I guess I chose that line of work to try to right all the wrongs in the world. But eventually that career took its toll on me. I saw so much pain and injustice, abuse of inmates by staff, racism so many unthinkable things that people hear about but no one ever does anything to stop it. I am a very empathetic person. I try to find the good in everyone and help if help is needed. My career was not an easy one, I believed in being firm but fair and stood up for what was right. Even when it was my own superiors I was standing up against. It was my empathy that would later be my downfall .In 2014 I had a run in with an ex inmate. He was broke down at a gas station in the middle of nowhere and asked me for a ride. That ride would change my life for the worse. He ended up raping me and left me for dead by the side of a river. I had just enough time to make the call to 911 before passing out due to blood loss. I was a pretty heavy drinker up until that point, but after that, I dove head first into anything that would help me forget everything. I lost the career with the sheriff's department after being arrested in another county for drug possession. It was no surprise to them. They all saw the internal battle I was fighting daily just to get out of the bed to make it to work. I attempted suicide several times and literally gave up on life. December of last year I dealt drugs to my boyfriend which he overdosed on. I prayed for the first time in so long and promised God that I would make a deal with him. I told him I would set what problems I had with him to the side and that if he would bring my boyfriend back to life that I would stop everything, enter rehab and change my life. He answered my prayers that day and Johns heart started beating after 7 minutes of CPR. I told my boyfriend about the deal I made and we researched rehabs that took couples. They are few and far between. I contacted Fair Oaks recovery center and told them the same story I told you. They told me no couples but called me a few days later and said they were so moved by my testimony that they were willing to take us both. On Feb 8 they flew both of us to Sacramento. We graduated on March 13 and entered into the Mather program while staring 10 weeks of outpatient recovery. We both graduated outpatient on May 1st. I've never met so many kind hearted people. There were so many people cheering us on. We are still at Mather and doing well The odds have been stacked against us and we've beat those odds no matter what. We are still both clean and sober and coming up on our 4 months mark. We're both enrolled in NCCT and I just got a job. This is where I need some help. He and I flew here with only a small suitcase and clothes on our backs. Turns out, healthy people have some weight on them, lol, and I have outgrown my clothes. I start a job on Monday and I have nothing nice to wear. It requires businesslike dress attire. I know this may sound silly to ask help for, but, this will be the first job I've had since I was injured years ago. I've suffer from PTSD and severe social anxiety, which I am learning how to cope and deal through weekly counseling and therapy. Getting this job is a huge step and boost in confidence for myself. I'm very excited . I weighed 101 when I got here and now I'm proudly 150. I do not know anyone here, and I had to cut communication with my mother, so I don't have anyone to reach out to. My sponsor says closed mouths dont get fed. I really need help getting clothing and shoes. I do not have any money. Once I start getting a steady paycheck I can start checking off the other things I need, reliable transportation, an apartment, furniture, ect. Leaving the drug lifestyle behind and being broke is a small price to pay for sobriety, learning how to be a good person, live a wonderful life and my new found relationship with God. Could you please help with clothing or funds I could buy clothing and hygiene with. I hate to even ask this but I desperately am in need. Thank you for your kindness and your time reading this, thank you.

Sincerely

Christine Collier