Algonac Man Celebrates One Year Sober at Grace Centers of Hope

David Smith, age 41, faced a mountain of obstacles early in his life. When he was just 12 years old, Smith, who grew up in Algonac, started drinking and experimenting with drugs. His life quickly spiraled out of control after his father was killed by a drunk driver when he was in 11th grade. His life from that point was centered on his addiction to drugs and alcohol and he soon dropped out of high school.

“I just fell off the face of the Earth,” Smith said.

Despite multiple attempts to get clean and enroll in different rehab programs, Smith continued to relapse. He noticed that the typical 30-day programs that were offered just weren’t working. Finally, he found Grace Centers of Hope, a leading faith-based nonprofit located in Pontiac that provides a comprehensive range of programs and services to help individuals and families overcome issues of homelessness, addiction, neglect, poverty, and spiritual emptiness.

Each night, Grace Centers accommodates between 150-200 men, women, and children, serving nearly 110,000 meals each year and providing more than 36,000 nights of stay. Its One Year Life Skills Programs for Men and Women includes daily classes, routines to help develop workplace skills and access to the Grace Centers of Hope Career and Education Center.

The Career and Education Center offers a variety of classes such as GED prep courses, one-on-one tutoring, career search workshops, resume writing assistance, job search assistance and coaching, financial planning, work readiness, and more.

Motivated to be a great example for his kids, Smith knew that rebuilding his life started with getting sober and completing his high school education. In December 2021, his hard work paid off when he celebrated one full year of sobriety and became the Career and Education Center’s 50th GED graduate.

“Many people who arrive at our doorstep are negatively affected by economic challenges, physical or emotional disabilities, accidents, unfortunate life choices, substance abuse and other addictions,” said Grace Centers of Hope CEO Pastor Kent Clark. “They oftentimes lack the life skills, education, dignity, spirituality, and the confidence to empower their own success. We’re thrilled to see David get back on track, moving forward with hope and possibility for the great things that life truly has to offer.”

Smith works at the Grace Centers of Hope Thrift Store in Sterling Heights and looks forward to continuing his education, giving credit to the nonprofit for saving his life.

“I can say without a doubt that Grace Centers of Hope saved my life,” Smith said. “And I couldn’t have earned my GED without the help of their team at the Career and Education Center. I look forward to taking the next steps in my education and career.”

For more information about the life-saving programs at Grace Centers of Hope, visit www.gracecentersofhope.org.