Lesia Adcock said she was “at her wits’ end” when she called a veteran’s crisis hotline while in Colorado.
“You get behind and make bad choices,” said the Army veteran. “I don’t know, it’s like God told me to come to Poplar Bluff because that’s where I need to be.”
Adcock was told about the SEMO Christian Restoration Center and arrived four months ago.
“It’s a lifesaver, I’m telling you,” she said, “this place is a lifesaver.”
Like many of the veterans that come to this place on a bluff overlooking the St. Francis River, the center was in ruins 16 months ago. A fire destroyed the facility a week before Christmas in 2017.
“It was ashes,” said Bishop Ron Webb. “There was absolutely nothing. We had 21 clients here. No one got hurt. (An) oxygen tank may have blown up.”
The rebuilt center now can host 32 veterans at a time and a new facility for women in Poplar Bluff can house 20.
To celebrate, the center hosted a ribbon cutting Saturday afternoon featuring Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and area officials.
“I was really thankful that our state officials were here, our local officials were here; but the people came out, families came out, veterans came out,” Webb said. “I thought that was awesome, that made my heart leap.”
Parson, who served six years in the Army, talked about how that experience shaped his life.
“You’ll serve people you never see, you never meet and you’ll never know,” Parson said. “That’s exactly what these facilities are about. We’re going to help somebody that you may never see, you may never meet, you may never know. But somebody will.
“They’re going to have a place to come. They’re going to have a place and a time and a need.”
Adcock epitomizes what the program is all about, Webb said. When she came to the center she had no job, struggled with substance abuse, lost her driver’s license and had nowhere to live.
Now the 58-year-old has a job, is looking to move into a new apartment and is getting her driver’s license restored. Adcock was surprised during the ceremony with the keys to a new car donated by Jeff and Ashley Baldwin.
“It’s a blessing,” said Adcock, a native of Hayti, Mo. who got to visit Saturday with her son and grandchildren.
The center opened in 2001 as a post-rehabilitation program, giving residents a safe environment to learn life skills leading to independent living and job readiness skills training. It also has a partnership with the Veterans Administration Service to work with veterans who are homeless and those dealing with substance abuse. The center sits on 4.5 acres along the St. Francis River just east of Lake Wappapello.
“We know restoration heals,” Webb said.
Missouri Rep. Jeff Shawan read a proclamation from the House of Representatives recognizing the center and a letter from U.S. Senator Josh Hawley was read.
During his speech, Parson said it’s programs like this that find solutions to make the state and country a better place.
“They served all of us,” Parson said of the veterans. “They served all of us honorably and yet some of them face problems when they get out of the service, for whatever reason. It’s our obligation to take care of them and help them find their way in life. To find a new focus in life and how they come back out in society to be productive. That’s what we all want. That’s what all of our calling should be, to help one another.”
Webb was also able to recognize those that helped make the center what it is today. Among those given awards included Colby Robertson and Robertson Construction, Allen Achterbereg, Don Denney, Dr. Dennis and Dr. Popy Daniels, Jeff and Ashley Baldwin, Jasper Edmundson, Jerry Cooper and Barbara Smith.
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