PEORIA, AZ — A group of neighbors in Peoria is giving back in a big way to a family-run rehab shelter.
Robin Pettrey was able to collect donations to give Christmas presents to men living in the Deep Within, a nonprofit drug and alcohol recovery program. The shelter provides a home to men with no place to go or who are recovering from drug or alcohol abuse. They get a bed, food, work and counseling.
Pettrey decided to reach out to her neighbors to collect clothes for them on Christmas. "It's like a sweatshirt, T-shirt, a pair of work gloves, a wallet, some little candy. I know a lot of them are probably by themselves and don't have any family," said Pettrey.
The response she got from her neighbors was overwhelming. Thanks to donations, she and other volunteers were able to wrap 30 presents.
One of the neighbors Maureen Munsen also created a GoFundMe to help buy presents and give back to the shelter.
"I just think it's going to bring a little bit of joy to their Christmas," said Munsen.
"It makes me feel wonderful, just knowing that there's a lot of good people out there and people are willing to help somebody else. It's just a very gratifying feeling," said Pettrey.
Some of the men stay for a couple of months and others have been there for years. "It's amazing that people want to reach out and that people actually care that we're here. It's a great feeling," said Victor Lerma, who's been living in the shelter for five months.
Cindy Humes and her husband Lee ran the ministry. He passed away from COVID-19 in May.
"This year, the men that are here--helped me survive losing my husband. Their pain that they've been through in their life, they used that to help me," said Humes.
She said this year has been emotionally and financially tough and seeing the community outreach touched her heart.
"It gives me hope for the human people who are going through their own struggles that would take their time to do something like this for complete strangers," said Humes.
Learn more about Deep Within Rehab here.
