Building More Than Garden Beds

During one of the coldest weeks this winter, a local hotel owner called us. A father and his 19-year-old daughter were living in a tent at an RV park. The temperatures had dropped dangerously low, and they needed shelter.

A local hotel operator took them in and called to see if we had any work we could provide. We said yes.

The backstory was complicated. The daughter had only met her father four years ago. She is steady and capable. He has struggled for years with addiction and mental health challenges.

The first day was difficult. When I went down to the riverfront to check on the work, it was clear he had been drinking. I asked him directly. He admitted it. I told him we couldn’t allow him to work on the property unless he was sober and committed to recovery. We paid them for their hours and dismissed them.

That night, he relapsed fully. An altercation at the hotel led to him being asked to leave. In the midst of that crisis, his own father suffered a heart attack and passed away days later.

Rock bottom.

Shortly after, he voluntarily checked himself into rehab.

He completed treatment at two different facilities over the course of a month. Last week, they returned to River Rose.

Something had changed.

My wife noticed it immediately: clarity, humility, steadiness.

She put them to work again.

This week:

• We began fully recultivating the garden.
• We used heavy equipment to deep-till and remove invasive nutgrass that has hindered the soil.
• We started constructing raised flower beds.
• We paid them over $1,000 in wages between last week and this week.

He operates the tractor and tiller with skill. She works with focus and strength.

But this isn’t just about wages.

We are working with them on:

• Life skills
• Accountability
• Relationship rebuilding
• Networking toward future employment
• Stabilizing income and direction

River Rose is not built to serve hundreds at a time.

Our model is simple: Provide margin. Provide work. Provide accountability. Build foundations.

And do it with a few people at a time, deeply.

We could not have paid these wages or extended this bridge without the generous donations given over the holidays. Your contributions directly funded this stabilization period.

We are committed to continuing to update you so you can see exactly how funds are being used and lives are being rebuilt.

Thank you for believing in restoration.

With gratitude,

Rex & Lisa
River Rose Leadership Center