Jonna’s life started in upstate New York where she was born into an unstable household marked by partying and abuse. Her parents were still teenagers, barely out of middle school. Her childhood memories are blurry, but at twelve years old, tragedy struck. Her brother’s tenth birthday celebration became a drinking party. Her mother allowed her brother to ride in a car with a drunk driver, leading to a fatal accident that claimed his life. From that moment on, Jonna’s life was shaped by trauma.
While grieving her brother’s death, Jonna endured abuse from her stepfather and witnessed her mother’s experience with domestic violence. Determined not to fall into the same patterns, Jonna vowed to avoid drugs and alcohol. She and her sister were eventually placed in foster care where their first family was abusive, denying them food and subjecting them to mental torment. At age 15 she left and went to live with a cousin. She eventually met a man and became pregnant. He drank all the time, and she endured more pain. After their breakup, her temptation grew too strong, and her addiction began.
Eventually, Jonna married and had three children while also raising her husband’s three. She thought she had overcome her addiction and described their marriage as loving and supportive, until her husband’s death from cancer in 2010. Despite the overwhelming grief, she stayed sober. However, after marrying her second husband, her life began to unravel. She thought she could save him, but instead, she found herself falling back into addiction. She started going to work high, or skipping it altogether, spending rent money on drugs, and nearly losing everything. The one thing she never wanted was to involve her children in her addiction, but that fear became a reality when she saw her son dragged into a van by a dealer over a debt. At that moment, the pain of losing her brother came rushing back, and Jonna was consumed by fear and helplessness.
She knew she had to find a way out. Jonna’s journey led her to Charlotte Rescue Mission where she became a resident at Dove’s Nest. When she first arrived, she felt scared and alone, ashamed of throwing away over ten years of sobriety. But everything began to change when she met Ms. Leslie, a compassionate woman who believed in her. For the first time, Jonna felt loved and supported and she knew she was exactly where she needed to be.
The structure and accountability at Dove’s Nest gave Jonna the stability she had been missing. It helped her stay grounded and responsible, something she had struggled with when she was on her own. She felt safe enough to confront her past and dig deep into her own heart. It was raw, but it was real. Just as she was approaching her ninety-day milestone, she received the devastating news that her daughter had passed away. Yet, with the love and support of the staff and counselors, Jonna was able to grieve and find strength. She was not alone anymore—she had a team of genuine people by her side.
Today, Jonna is a proud resident of Charlotte Rescue Mission’s sober living community. She lives by her three C’s—courage, choice, and change. She has found a new purpose in her life, working with disabled individuals, and she treasures making people feel seen and special. Jonna is determined to further her education in behavior therapy and loves giving back to the homeless community. Through the meetings she attends, she has helped others find strength and hope.
Now almost 18 months sober, Jonna says, “Charlotte Rescue Mission did not cost me money. They did not want payment. They wanted me to find sobriety.” She also adds, “The donors who support the mission do not even know us, but they genuinely want the best for people who others would consider ‘less than.’” Jonna has found hope, purpose, and a new path forward—and she’s committed to walking it every day.
