Fairfield Archway Recovery Services Looking For Help To Keep Its Doors Open
FAIRFIELD (CBS13) — A recovery center dedicated to helping men beat drug and alcohol addiction now needs help of its own.
After nearly 20 years, Archway Recovery Services is in jeopardy of shutting its doors.
From the outside it looks like an unassuming house. But through those doors, this program has helped more than 2,000 men clean up their act.
Julie Lake's passion for the program and the loves for her clients oozes out of her. She started Archway nearly 20 years ago. After battling with alcohol addiction herself, she knew it was up to her to help others.
"I believe that every person should have the opportunity to become everything that they can be," she said.
The residential treatment program helps men like Eddie Diaz, who was once addicted to drugs and alcohol.
"The moment I tried it, I loved it. And I wanted to do more and more of it, because it made me feel good," he said.
After years of doing methamphetamine and cocaine, and spending time in and out of jail, Eddie says it was when he was arrested in front of his children that he knew it was time to get his life together.
"But I know I'll never forget that pain that I had when I was out there because that's what keeps me focused on staying clean one day at a time," he said.
He has now been sober for seven years, and says he owes it all to Julie and her program.
Archway used to be able to help 22 men like Eddie at a time. But Julie says with little to no state funding, the nonprofit now relies on donations, which are not coming in. She expects she will be forced to shut the doors at the end of the month.
In one last-ditch effort, she's started an online campaign, hoping the community will find it in their hearts to donate money, so other men in need of help can get it.
The online drive through IndieGoGo can be found here.
