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From Behind the Bucket to Behind the Line My name is Donald Nichols. I was a client in the Jersey City Ready, Willing & Able program for 12 months. I am now a staff member who runs the Jersey City kitchen.
Although I was drinking and drugging, I still managed to finish high school and found myself in college. I continued to use drugs there. My addiction became uncontrollable and I began stealing and robbing people on campus, which led to my dismissal. I didn't learn anything from that and continued to use. I didn't want to use drugs anymore, but I couldn't, and didn't know how to, stop. I got several good jobs with the postal service, banks and stock brokerage I reached a point where I was unable to get another job. My appearance deteriorated. The only thing left for me to do was sell drugs. Once I got into the drug game, I thought I was "the man for the minute." I began using more than I was selling. I owed all my earnings to drug dealers. I could barely make a dollar and when I did, I bought more drugs. As time went on, I lost my apartment, my car, my friends and family. I
sold everything I owned -- my stereo, clothes, jewelry and whatever I could get my hands on. I robbed my
mother and my closest family members, until they would have nothing to do with me. I began selling drugs
out of an abandoned building, where I also slept. I felt my life was over, but the worst was yet to come.
I started going to
One day, I was standing in front of a liquor store, talking to some friends, drinking a 40-ounce beer. One of the guys had a flyer about The Doe Fund. I came to the Jersey City facility in May 1998 to inquire about the program. I was given a bed and some hope. The program showed me how to stop using alcohol and drugs. I was introduced to some men who were in the same situation as myself. In 3 months, I was moved from the street-cleaning crews to the kitchen, where I worked until May 1999. My life was turned completely around. I was then promoted to a staff member in training. I was trained at the Ready, Willing & Able facility in Brooklyn. After getting a full staff position as Kitchen Supervisor, I moved out of
the facility I owe my life to The Doe Fund. They taught me how to live again. I have my family back in my life again. I graduated on March 31, 2000. I am about to go back to college and complete my degree. Thank you for letting me share my story with you. I hope it will help someone else. -- Donald Nichols |
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When I entered the program, I was homeless and addicted to
alcohol, cocaine,
crack, heroin and any kind of pills I could get my hands on. I began using drugs when I was 12 years old.
I started drinking to be accepted by my peers. After a few months, I began smoking marijuana, which led to
sniffing cocaine. By the age of 15, I was sniffing heroin. I fell in love with that particular drug.
companies, but lost every one of them in no time flat. The longest I held a job
was for 9 months in the post
office. Because of my addictive behavior, I was always late and often did not show up after getting paid. I
had a serious problem and I didn't know how to fix it.
jail on drug charges and spending as much as 7 months to a year behind bars. This lasted until I was 35 years old.
and into my own apartment. I began to work in the largest RWA facility, known as
"Harlem 1." After 8 months, I was transferred back to the facility in Jersey
City, where I had originally
entered the program.
