STORIES OF EMPOWERMENT: Kristin’s Story
From the outside, Kristin’s childhood may have looked like the picture of stability. She was adopted into a loving home and grew up in a seemingly safe environment. But behind closed doors, her reality was shaped by isolation, depression, and a longing to feel “normal.”
“I started using when I was five or six,” Kristin admits. “My sister had ADHD and was prescribed Adderall. I started stealing it because I thought if it helped her, maybe it would help me too.”
That early decision, driven by pain and loneliness, began a decades-long battle with addiction that would eventually lead to incarceration, broken relationships, and complete disconnection from family, friends, and herself.
It wasn’t until Kristin found herself in prison, facing the reality of her daughter entering foster care, that something shifted.
“My kid begged me not to leave her in the system. That was my moment. I decided I had to try something—anything—different.”
After her release, Kristin walked out of prison with nothing but a plastic bag of belongings. No phone, no money, no plan. But she remembered hearing about the Center of Hope while in recovery and made her way to The Salvation Army Sarasota.
“I didn’t know if it was going to work. But I knew I had to try.”
When Kristin arrived at The Salvation Army, she was spiritually empty, emotionally fragile, and unemployed for more than 14 years. She had no connections, no confidence, and no clear path forward.
But this is where the change began.
At The Salvation Army, Kristin didn’t just find shelter—she found support, dignity, and direction. Through structure, compassion, and the encouragement to believe in her worth, she began to rebuild her life one day at a time.
Today, Kristin has two jobs, her own apartment, and—most importantly—she has her daughter back.
“I was completely clueless about how to live life other than in despair, in prison, or dead. The Salvation Army opened their doors to me and welcomed me in.”
Kristin’s transformation is a testament to the power of second chances—and how The Salvation Army ignites change for those ready to reclaim their lives. Every act of support, every moment of compassion, and every opportunity provided can light the spark that leads to lasting hope.
“Don’t give up. It’s quality over quantity. What you think about, where you spend your time—it all matters. Every little thing matters.”
In Sarasota and beyond, The Salvation Army is igniting change—one life, one story at a time.