“I started using drugs at 11 years old,” shares Linda. Linda is now 58 years old with three grown children.
In 2007 and just out of rehab, Linda moved into Titusville in Kent, MSC’s housing for women in recovery. Linda lived there for about a year. “It was hard. I had to focus with tunnel vision on my recovery in order to survive,” she shares. “Titusville was my stepping stone.”
In 2008, Linda met Robin Corak, MSC’s current CEO, who at that time was an employment counselor at MSC. “Robin lifted me up. My self-esteem at that point was very low, and she made me feel worthy,” shares Linda.
With Robin’s help, Linda started volunteering for St. Francis hospital. Eventually this led to employment, which helped Linda to move out of Titusville and into more permanent housing. Throughout the years, Linda has also been able to benefit from MSC’s energy assistance program and visiting the food bank.
Linda stayed in touch with Robin, and in 2009, joined the MSC Board of Directors as a client representative. “I can remember the CEO at the time, Dini, giving me rides. And Michael, another board member would drop me off after the meeting and we’d have conversations. All the board members were so welcoming and helped to make sure I was comfortable.”
“Being on the board helped me give back after so much was given to me,” shares Linda. Without MSC I would still be struggling, they gave me that hope. Everybody needs that pick-me-up once in a while.”
“It’s amazing to see how MSC has grown, just in the time since I was on the board,” she says. “Doing more outreach and engaging with the community.”
“I would love to be able to contribute on the board again someday,” says Linda. Linda served on the MSC board until 2017 when she needed to focus on finishing her schooling to become certified in medical billing and coding.
