Lives Changed Forever
Four men with stories of mistakes, life-altering choices, loss, and separation, and ultimately, redemption. Together, Doug, Leroy, Dwayne, and Tim spent 131 years on the inside, facing years of regret, survival, and waiting. Today, their stories are no longer about the past. They are about what happens when someone is given a real chance and the support to transform their life.
That chance came through Truly Reaching You (TRY), a faith-based program in Akron that walks with men during one of the most fragile times in their lives. TRY provides housing, transportation, clothing, job training, employment, accountability, and spiritual guidance. It is a structured program that requires hard work, personal responsibility, and commitment.
Doug spent 34 years on the inside. With TRY, he rebuilt his life, reconnected with his family, became a crew leader, and embraced his faith.
Leroy entered at 17 and spent 28 years on the inside. TRY taught him patience, accountability, and leadership. Today, he works steadily, lives responsibly, and leads by example.
Dwayne carried 34 years on the inside. Through TRY, he found structure, employment, and restored connections with his family.
Tim spent 35 years on the inside. TRY helped him overcome fear, build confidence, and regain independence, reconnecting with his family and community.
All four men say the same thing:
“None of this would be possible without TRY.”
Their stories are four of more than 500 men Truly Reaching You has helped over 26 years. Every life transformed is a story of hope and second chances.
You can help make more stories like these possible.
Your support provides housing, jobs, accountability, and the chance for a life transformed.
Give today. Change a life forever.
https://secure.givelively.org/donate/truly-reaching-you-inc
Click on their photos to read their full stories.
South Street Hub Tour & WORK Campaign Updates
Importantly, our anniversary year included a huge fundraising component, and to highlight that effort we wanted to share a synopsis of our work at TRY; where we are currently as an organization, and with a focus on our plans for finishing the WORK Campaign, which started in 2018 and was then interrupted for two years by the pandemic. We resurrected the campaign – which is raising funds for critical projects such as finishing refurbishment of our South Street Employment Training & Career Education Hub, training equipment and vehicles, and more.
To date, we have reached our original $750,000 goal for the campaign, but due to Covid-related cost increases for supplies and materials needed to run our Employment Training Program, we were forced to raise our campaign goal to around $900,000. Early investments in the WORK Campaign have already paid off in spades, helping us to grow our training programs which, in turn, increases our capacity for earning fees for service through this unique social enterprise/work-for-hire program!
We’d love to take you on a tour of the new South Street Hub, so let us know if you’re interested! In the meantime, click here to check it out and learn more!
Princeton Street Tour
Currently rounding out our 25th anniversary year at Truly Reaching You, we’ve created some video “stories” to share focused on the history, current programs and successes we’ve experienced during our reentry work, to date.
Our first video highlights the newest (#6) transitional home for our men! This home on Princeton street opened earlier this year, and houses men who are participating in TRY’s leadership training track – they are employed full time or training for leadership-level positions with our organization! Men participating in our reentry program worked as part of their hands-on employment skills training, on the construction and refurbishment of the property, which features some amazing original features and modern upgrades!
Warehouse Renovation Progress
This time last year, we were working to raise enough funds to replace the leaking roof on our newly donated warehouse. Thanks to our partners and generous donors, the space has transformed into an active hub for our Employment Skills Training Program.
Check out what what’s been accomplished since July: (pictures below)
The dysfunctional garage doors and man door have been replaced, with an added benefit of improving the exterior appearance. All new energy efficient lighting was installed with motion sensors for each section. Commercial metal racking and custom built wooden racks were built to maximize storage. A forklift was very generously donated and has already been used to fill the racking with organizing bins. A 60 gallon, flammable materials, storage cabinet now safely stores gasoline for the lawn equipment. Permanent posts and removable railing were installed along the west garage bay for the safety.
All this and we’re just getting started! Our architect partner is drawing up plans for the next step, which includes new bathrooms with showers, a locker room, and meeting space. Read More
TRY’s 20th Anniversary Celebration
On October 24th 2019, we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Truly Reaching You. To everyone who joined us that evening or supported us over the past 20 years, we thank you.
Photography by: Dana Elizabeth Photography
Perry’s Story
My Story
By Perry Clark, Founder and President of Truly Reaching You
My 5 children visited me on the inside
I spent ten years of my life (from 1987 to 1997) “on the inside,” for mistakes I made as a young man. During this period of deep self-reflection, I developed a greater appreciation for freedom and the truly important things in life. Guided by a strong sense of faith and self-discipline, I made a commitment to become a better son to my mother, a better brother to my siblings, a better father to my children and a good neighbor to the people in my community.
During my time “on the inside,” I was also greatly impacted by the opportunity to lead a team of men in a vocational training program. Over the course of three years, our team rehabilitated 11 homes as part of a community service project in the Mansfield area. This program gave me the opportunity to build a foundation of skills and leadership that has guided my work for years.
A New Season, a New Board Chair
As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, we look forward to a new season of growth and change. Last month, Chuck Rankin stepped down from his position as Board Chair after ten years of dedicated service. Jerry Fiume, Vice Chair since 2015, has taken on the role and responsibility of leading TRY’s Board of Directors.
Jerry is the Managing Director of SVN Summit Commercial Real Estate Group, LLC and an active member of the Akron community. You may recognize his name from the blue and orange signs all over the county. We asked him a few questions to share with you his passion for TRY’s mission.
Raise the Roof: Phase 1 Update
Our Raise the Roof project is the renovation of a 12,800-square-foot commercial warehouse located at 180 E. South St. in Akron.
Exciting progress is being made on the warehouse!
Along with our booming lawn care service, we continue to make progress on the warehouse.Read More
Larry: from Train Wreck to Blessed
Randy and Larry in late 2010
“Living in my truck. Failed at everything I tried to do in life. Failed as a father, brother, son, employee, and friend. An alcoholic searching for a better life but didn’t know what direction to go. The TRY program got me in the best shape ever mentally, physically, and spiritually. Looking back, any rough times in the program were because I made it rough not the program. I volunteer as much as I can, other things prevent full time employment. I own half a house and rent out rooms to others in recovery (Using some of the rules from the program). Relationships with family and friends are better now than ever before.”Read More
Finding Hope with Help
When you feel powerless, hopeless, helpless, and alone . . .
TRY is here to help you find solutions with God.
This phrase is printed on the back of t-shirts all participants and training staff are given to wear while working. But it’s not just a phrase, the stories shared by former participants perfectly illustrate how there is always hope, even when all seems lost.
When you feel powerless, hopeless, helpless, and alone . . .
Larry: “Failed as a father, brother, son, employee, and friend. An alcoholic searching for a better life but didn’t know what direction to go.”
Rick: “Before going into treatment I was lost. I was so deep into my addiction that I had no hope.”
Jim: “I found myself behind bars. That being said, my future was bleak at best.”
Randy: “I had destroyed any relationships that had any meaning. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of drug & alcohol addiction, spiraling out of control.”
TRY is here to help you find solutions with God.
Larry: “Relationships with family and friends are better now than ever before.” He is now a homeowner who rents rooms to others in recovery and plays guitar in the worship band at church.
Rick: “From the first day I entered TRY I had a sense of hope that I hadn’t had before.” He has made helping other men find hope his career as TRY’s Recovery Manager.
Jim: “Through TRY I met business contacts which brought me to the job I still have, which is a department lead working with government I.T. equ.” He is also on the leadership team at his church.
Randy: “Many of the relationships that had been destroyed due to my confusion have been restored, or are being restored.” He now helps other men break the cycle of addiction as a manager of TRY’s Employment Skills Training program.
Stories like these keep us going, because they show that TRY works!
Questions? Something you want to know more about? Let us know!