MAYBEURY, W. Va. -Poverty and addiction are two big issues facing many in our area, with West Virginia leading the nation in overdose deaths and McDowell County being one of the poorest counties in the entire United States. It was these issues that prompted McDowell County native, Shawnessy Potter, to make a difference, after fighting those battles in her own life for two decades.
“I struggled in addiction for twenty years. My poor mama, she worked in a bar, and I grew up in it, and I started using drugs when I was 9 years old. I went down a long, dark path. I lost everything. All my morals, all my values…” says Potter, “…I actually used to be homeless right here in this area. I stayed in abandoned buildings. I’ve walked this street in prostitution, and I’m just here to reach those same people that are just like me.
After spending most of her adult life incarcerated, a friend turned peer recovery specialist helped get her the help she needed and inspired her help others in similar situations. She created the faith-based nonprofit Lion of Judah New Life Ministries and hopes to open a long-term recovery home to help those addicted transition back into the world with job skills and a relationship with God.
In the meantime, she is still giving back, holding a ‘Christmas Give Away’ on Saturday with warm clothes, food, toys, and more. This was made possible thanks to out-of-state help. Mountain View Baptist Church from North Carolina helped to supply the items to give away, and one volunteer traveled from Tennessee to take part.
“ Because I know what it’s like to not have nothing when you need it and somebody to come and help you out. It’s always good…” explains Jessica Detew, the Tennessee volunteer, “…There’s always a good reason to help people and Jesus Christ is number one.”
Potter says these items are essential, but this give away also gives people information, to connect those wanting to fight their addiction with the help they need.
“I was here one time, and I needed help, and there was nobody there. And if maybe somebody would have said, ‘Hey, here’s a way out,’ I would have latched on to it, but I just didn’t know if there was anything else… I didn’t know how to get out of the streets. I literally laid on my face in jail and I asked God, I said, Lord, help me to change. I don’t know how. And I was like, I don’t know how to get out of this. When I get out of jail, I’m going, I don’t know what to do. Lord, help me. And He did…” says says Potter, “…I don’t think that people realize that there’s a way out until somebody comes and shows up.”
Potter hopes this nonprofit will be a light to the community and remind people that if you are suffering from addiction, there is help.
She hopes to have the recovery home open within a year and says they are in need of volunteers and resources like mattresses. Potter encourages those in need of assistance to reach out to her. You can go to the Lion of Judah New Life Ministries’ website or Facebook to find out more or call her at 423-433-7269.
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