An enthusiastic and grateful community loudly cheered and applauded the Rev. Sandra Mick-Shockey on Thursday night as she was named the Daily American Republic’s Difference Maker of the Year for 2024.
Mick-Shockey, CEO of Recycling Grace Ministries, has been providing spiritual counseling for more than two decades with area women in recovery.
“Our Difference Maker of the Year is someone who knows first-hand what it means for someone to reach out to them to help,” Publisher Chris Pruett said in making the announcement. “When they needed assistance, someone listed.
“Once this person received the help they needed, they turned to God and invited him into their life. That invitation has led to a series of major accomplishments for them and the Poplar Bluff area.”
Mick-Shockey has partnered with numerous churches, organizations and individuals to provide supportive services for those in recovery. Recycling Grace Ministries was founded in 2008, when the use of a church building was donated. Volunteers restored the building to make it usable for the ministry.
“Helping women recover from drug and alcohol abuse has become this person’s calling. What has transpired has been remarkable,” Pruett said. “They have established three centers for women’s residential recovery and are currently in the process of building a maternity home.”
Mick-Shockey and volunteers then started to address the issues of addiction by opening the doors of the church to offer various support groups for those seeking recovery from alcoholism and drug addictions.
“Every single girl at Recycling Grace has had their life changed by Sandra,” said Carlee Lindsay, seated with Mick-Shockey’s friends and Recycling Grace members and supporters during the event at the Black River Coliseum. “And she has never given up on anyone.”
“She builds us back up with confidence and love,” remarked Chelsea Edwards. “She shows us what real love and real community is actually like.”
“If it weren’t for her, I don’t know where I would be,” exclaimed Jillian Hernandez.
Mick-Shockey has long stated she wants to give to others and women who have benefited from the Recycling Grace program want to share their stories and praises.
“The positive effects of Rev. Mick-Shockey’s efforts are both far-reaching and profound,” Dr. Candee Elisabeth Baker said in her nomination letter. “These are evidenced through the testimonies and accomplishments of multitudes of women and mothers who are successful completers of Recycling Grace Women’s Center.
“The difference that Rev. Mick-Shockey has made in our community cannot be understated because she has created positive generational change through transformation of women’s lives.”
Upon receiving the award, Mick-Shockey immediately gave thanks to God and quoted Romans 12:1 - “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
“It has been my reasonable service to show others what God has shown me,” Mick-Shockey stated.
She then thanked her husband and the Recycling Grace board of directors before turning her attention to those in attendance who had graduated from Recycling Grace.
“I would love for my ladies to stand up,” Mick-Shockey said. “I have learned as much from them as they have learned from all of us in the program.”
Mick-Shockey then thanked the community for being so loving and openly receiving of the Recycling Grace program.
“I’m very honored,” she said. “It’s just a joy for me to be able to serve.”
“This is the most generous comm I’ve ever been in, in my life, and you are the ones that made it happen,” Mick-Shockey added.