Overcoming addiction, crime and tragedy two of Union Gospel Mission’s LifeChange residents graduate
Graduates Patricia and David have each spent over four years in recovery 

Portland, OR- Leaving behind years of drug abuse, crime and tragedy two members of Union Gospel Mission’s LifeChange recovery community will graduate on Sunday, April 10 at 3:00 pm at the NW Natural Gas building 220 NW Davis, in downtown Portland.

Patricia Socia came to LifeChange from Coos County jail in 2000. She had been using meth and had been involved in a series of abusive relationships with men. Tragically one of the men she had been involved with murdered her toddler son. Amid this devastation Patricia dove deeper into meth, and after a stint in jail came to LifeChange. In LifeChange Patricia learned to heal and set the foundation for her recovery. Today, she’s planning on attending college and seeking a job in accounting.

David Willis also came to LifeChange in 2000. Feeling suicidal in his addiction, David had been addicted to drugs for over two decades. The drug that held him captive was crack. His downward spiral began in Junior High in Texas when he shot and wounded a classmate who had bullied him. In his juvenile detention center, the youths were involved in abuse and brutal fights, and guards not only turned a blind eye, but also used to bet on which boy would win. After surviving two years of brutality in juvenile detention David dove into a life of drug use, drug sales, robberies at gunpoint and further stints in jail. In LifeChange, David learned to overcome the anger that fueled his life of crime and drug use. Today, David hopes to use his experience to reach out to other young men who are headed down the wrong path.

The LifeChange recovery program is a long-term addiction recovery community where men and women live and work at Union Gospel Mission as they overcome addiction and learn to build new lives. LifeChange employs a comprehensive approach helping people heal physically, emotionally and spiritually. LifeChange provides education and job training skills to equip LifeChange members for productive lives.

Union Gospel Mission will soon be able to more than double the number of men and women served in LifeChange with construction of the new LifeChange Center building at the corner of NW Third and Burnside. Construction of the new building is slated to begin this summer.

About Union Gospel Mission: Union Gospel Mission has been “feeding the hungry and restoring the addict” since 1927. Union Gospel Mission provides meals for the homeless and needy and operates LifeChange, a long-term addiction recovery community. In LifeChange, residents live and work at Union Gospel Mission for four years and learn to overcome addiction and build new lives. For more information about Union Gospel Mission and LifeChange contact 503-274-4483, or visit online at www.ugmportland.org.