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Alphonso Dailey is in a hurry. A resident in Raleigh Rescue Mission’s Life Plan Program since December 2006, he manages a shipping store, is pursuing a career in law enforcement and must also meet the requirements of our recovery program. But 4-year-old Miles is waiting to see his daddy in the Mission’s W.E. Mangum Children’s Development Center and that tops Alphonso’s to-do list. “I see him almost every day and every weekend,” he says. “That has been a blessing.” Alphonso, 39, came to Raleigh with his family. Later, when he and Miles’ mother broke up, Miles stayed with his mother, but Alphonso came to the Mission for shelter. The day he arrived, Alphonso confided to the intake counselor he felt trapped in a vicious cycle that included marijuana, women and keeping a job. “There’s a misconception out there that marijuana is just fun, but you do it so you don’t have to deal with the issues in your life. Pretty soon it becomes the issue in your life,” Alphonso explains. “The counselor invited me to step out of the cycle and deal with my problems. So I decided to give it a shot.” Alphonso told Miles’ mother about the Children’s Development Center, and soon Miles was spending his days there while his mother worked. “Everyone loves my son,” Alphonso beams. “The best part is he gets the attention and guidance he needs. It’s not just about playing with the kids; it’s about teaching, listening, caring. Parents get input and the children are safe!” Father and son are both learning at Raleigh Rescue Mission. “I’ve learned I’m a caring individual. And, no matter what, God loves me. You don’t have to be perfect to come to Christ. You just have to have an open mind and an open heart,” Alphonso says. This Christmas, Alphonso is excited that he’ll be able to “play Santa Claus a bit” with Miles. “Last year I couldn’t even see my son,” he recalls. “In fact, before I didn’t really get Christmas. This year, I appreciate knowing the true meaning. I’ll be truly giving from my heart.”
To read other stories of changed lives, click here. |
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