Project Patch

I AM WONDERING all you that posted about Project Patch, was that in Garden Valley Idaho or the one in Washington?

I went to Project PATCH in January of 2003 and graduated August 2005, I was there for about 19 months. Prior to being enrolled in the program I was a drug addict, was homeless, only coming home when I needed something, had authority issues (understatement of the year) and was very promiscious. The list could literally go on, but in a nutshell, that is what I was facing (well what PATCH was facing lol). I also had stopped putting my faith in the Lord, I never ceased to believe the God was there, I just developed a hatred towards him. I bucked the program for a good chunk of the first year. I was on work crew and RE for most of that time. But as time went on, and as new and old issue arose, I always had someone to lean on, someone to talk to. Even if I didn't like what I heard, I learned to listen anyway and take what I could use and apply it to my situation, which is a very valuable life lesson for all ages alike. Long story short, by the time I graduated I had enough time and tools under my belt that i felt confident in myself when I returned home. I had a new faith in the Lord, a new relationship with my Mom, had been clean for almost 2 years... I thought going home would be a breeze... Unforutantly about a month or 2 after i got home I relapsed... I didn't just relapse once, I relapsed for almost a year year, worse than I had ever used before. I got very sick, was in the hospital and was literally out for a week, I, to this day, cannot remember that week. When I came to I felt a new yearning to get myself together. In 2006 I got clean, and have been ever since. I am married with 2 wonderful kids. My family goes to church and believes in the Lord, we have passed down our love for God to our kids. We bought our first house last summer. Life is good! I often think of where I would have been if my parents hadn't sent me to PATCH. Honestly, I do not know if I would be alive, and if I was, it wouldn't be a life worth living. PATCH did not 'cure' me, it did, however, give me a set of tools that I could use in everyday life, it taught me that I COULD make my own decisions, that my circumstances were a product of decisions made by ME. And when I chose life, one that I could be proud of, I flourished.

I went to Project Patch in 2009 and stayed until 2010. It was the best thing that ever happened to me! Before I went to Patch, I didn't know who I was, I struggled to get along with my parents, and didn't really have values on myself. Patch taught me so much about myself, life, and work ethics. I've never before met such caring people and found people who love Jesus and want to help others live their life to the fullest extent! Patch is wonderful and anyone struggling with any issues as a teen would definitely benefit from going there. They need our support! I'm a proud graduate of Project Patch!

Project Patch, There is so much I would love to say about this place but there is just not enough time nor enough space to put all the words down. I was sent to Patch around '07. I hated everyone and was running away and becoming volient, even pushing and kicking my Mother. I didn't respect anyone nor trust anyone. I was angry, hurt, frustrated, and the list goes on. I tired commiting sucide several times, and I know if I hadn't been put in Patch, I would have either died in a fight or killed myself. Patch, the staff and the counselors completely changed my life around. Now I love living, my Mother and I have a relationship that I thought was never going to be possible, I can talk to her about anything and there is none of the frustration or angry on either side. There is just sooooo much... The kids, the Teenagers need your help soooo much. I would not be who I am today, nor would I be living the life that I am and be as happy as I am if it hadn't been for Patch and for the donors who helped pay to keep me at Patch to change my life around.

As a 24 year alum of Project PATCH, I can attest to the powerful impact this organization has on troubled teens. At 17 years of age, I was drinking, smoking pot, shop lifting doing terrible in school and having poor boundaries with boys. After trying everything they knew, including individual and family counseling, my parents turned to PATCH. There I learned that choices have consequences, education can actually be fun and will impact my future and that drugs are not cool but will hijack my life. Instead of failing high school, I graduated with honors. I stopped smoking pot, sleeping around and shop lifting. I had a job all through my senior year and payed my own way in college. Today I work for PATCH and am excited to see the many young lives restored and even saved by this life-changing program.