Residential Alcohol & Drug Rehabilitation
The Bridges of Hope has seen its share of self-made
heartache. After many years of dealing with alcoholics and drugs addicts that
have lost employment, friends, family, freedom and self-respect. Many have
reached their "bottom" - - and also reached out for help. With the
help of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous and caring people they began the
long road to sobriety.
We immediately set about gaining community support and involvement by inviting
local leaders, some in recovery themselves, to form a board to oversee the
Bridges of Hope Charitable Trust. Seeking private donations they received
materials, services, and a little money to get things going.
After adequately renovating of the aging farm, the first residents arrived in
January 1987.
A short while later, a dormitory was built, and other buildings added. While the
original farmhouse could accommodate sixteen, the facility grew to house about
fifty residents. Residents began going out in the communities to perform
service work. A number were finishing at the Bridges, returning home or
remaining in the area, and staying sober. Eventually, skepticism - and the
stigma associated addiction - were overcome. The Bridges is now seen by the
Chamber of Commerce as an important community asset. In 1992, a television
producer and crew from CNN arrived in Argyle to create a ten-minute story on the
facility for a three-part documentary called " Across America with Larry
Woods." Word about the program began to spread.
With the success of the first Bridges the Board thought it was time to grow.
A second facility near Chauncey, Georgia was opened in 1991. A third
facility in Louisville, Georgia opened in 1996. In 2001 the fourth facility, was
opened in Morven, Georgia and is the first women's facility for Bridges of Hope.
(See FACILITIES)
The Board of Trustees, all volunteers has grown and
includes community leaders from each of the local areas.
The Bridges of Hope program is based on tough love, spirituality, and one
recovering person helping another.....and it works. To find out how you can
help us continue to grow and help those addicted to alcohol and/or drugs to help
alcohol and drug addicts, please see the section called FUNDING.