Stories of Empowerment: Jason’s Story
Jason’s life has been marked by deep trauma, devastating loss, and seemingly endless hardship. But thanks to your support and the compassionate care he received at The Salvation Army Sarasota, his story is now one of hope, healing, and restoration.
Jason was just eight years old when his world was turned upside down. While playing outside with his brother, tragedy struck—his older brother was shot and killed right in front of him. The shock and grief sent Jason’s entire family into a deep depression. With his mother absent and his father unable to cope, Jason was raised by neighbors.
“I couldn’t understand the ‘why,’” Jason said. “I didn’t want to feel anything anymore.”
As a child, he began numbing his pain with drugs and alcohol. At 18, just when life seemed it couldn’t get any harder, Jason lost his daughter in a horrific car accident. The trauma compounded, and his substance use grew more severe. Eventually, it led to a series of crimes and a 16-year prison sentence.
When Jason was finally released, he had no job, no identification, no bank account, and no place to sleep.
“I was under a cardboard box, literally,” he recalled. “I didn’t want to live the life I was saving anymore. I had no motivation, no hope.”
But then, something shifted. After going through detox at Centerstone in Bradenton, Jason asked his case manager for help finding a program that could truly change his life. That’s when he was referred to The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope in Sarasota.
Jason said the moment he walked through the doors, everything changed.
“I’m glad I made it to this place. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made—honestly, it saved my life and continues to save it every day.”
At the Center of Hope, Jason found people who cared. People who didn’t treat him like a number. He received counseling that helped him confront his past trauma and understand the roots of his addiction. He met staff and mentors who had walked similar paths—and found healing in their empathy.
“If you ever think you’re not worth it and you’ve lost all hope, don’t give up. If I can do it after 16 years in prison and sleeping on the street, anyone can.”
Today, Jason is employed. He’s been accepted to three different halfway houses. He’s building trust and relationships that once seemed out of reach. And most importantly, he sees value in himself again.
This is what inspiring hope looks like.
Thanks to you, Jason is no longer defined by what he’s lost—but by all that he’s rebuilding.