When the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) celebrated their 10th anniversary of having the Gratitude House for women and children on March 30, Executive Director Diann Gilmore made a promise that “nothing would be the same at our luncheon this year,” and she was right.
“Almost everything has been changed,” echoed Larry Gray, DWC board president at the luncheon, which brought a packed room of more than 600 people to the Amarillo Civic Center on Tuesday, May 5.
The upbeat and lively presentation featured several video presentations done by Jack Hilton, finance director and AI director, according to Gilmore, but it also included some heartbreaking stories of women who took the wrong path but were able to get back to their lives after seeking treatment at the DWC Recovery Program.
“I lost 15 years of sobriety over one drink,” one woman said. “Now I have four months, and we can never put our guard down.”
Devlon Jones lended his talent to the show, with a Thrift City, Thrift City Too and Uptown Shoppe jingle that was catchy and had a fun video accompanying it, taken at the various shops that help fund DWC. One of the main characters in the video happened to be George Raffkind, who previously owned Raffkind’s Clothing Store in Wolflin Village along with his wife.
At the start of the luncheon, those who had graduated from the program got up from their tables and marched to the front with their own signs they had made, showing their appreciation and dedication to the program.
“I haven’t seen my family for years, but now they’re willing to see me because I’m living in sobriety,” said one of the members who was quoted.
Gilmore told the crowd that the theme was the USA’s 250th Anniversary and that people could take the flags at the centerpieces, but not the centerpiece themselves because they were keeping costs down.
“We love our God and our country,” she said. Gilmore remarked at how the movement was growing and the number of those attending the luncheon also seemed to be getting larger.
“One woman from Georgia flew in for lunch today,” she said. “She was here before and now works for the State of Georgia with people applying for disabilities.”
“No one plans to be an addict or alcoholic,” one survivor said. “They just want to stop the pain.”
Gilmore also brought applause when she congratulated all the graduates of 2024 who are still clean and sober by the grace of God and the staff of DWC. She also thanked all the other denominations and individuals and businesses for their support through the years.
A special recovery story and request
Tom Tortoreo, who is on the cover of the DWC Daily Devotional, “Everyone is Redeemable,” with his daughter, Cassandra, told the moving story of almost losing his daughter to addiction.
He started with, “5,488 days ago, Cassandra lost her sister and we lost our daughter … but who’s counting?” he said.
“5,630 days ago, we noticed the stark difference in Cassandra’s behavior, and who she was becoming … but who’s counting?” he followed. Tortoreo kept counting down the timeline of their daughter’s fast decline into addiction and their torment and heartbreak.
“My young son brought to my wife and I a cap that had a syringe in it, and at that time, we knew Cassandra could no longer live in our home. And that’s where the chaos began,” he said.
“5,889 days ago, Cassandra called me and she said that a drug dealer had beaten her up and dragged her behind a car and had beaten her mercilessly,” he said. “She was afraid to call the police or an ambulance because she had challenges. My wife and I had to dress her wounds, and that was just a small part of our lives … but who’s counting?”
“3,560 days ago, Cassandra was sleeping on the streets and using a curb as a pillow … but again … who’s counting?” Then Tortoreo said “3,560 days ago, Cassandra called me and begged me to take her to a facility in Lubbock, Texas.”
“3,462 days ago, she was released from that facility, and 3,462 days ago she was admitted into the INS ISD and spent six months there … but who’s counting?” he continued.
Then the count to recovery begins …
Tortoreo continued telling the story with her being released from the facility and then starting to use again. But then, she entered the Downtown Women’s Center 3,220 days ago “and our daughter started her journey back home,” he said with tears of hope.
“We have our daughter back. That’s when we started counting,” he said. “We started counting our counselors and we started counting on Cassandra, being the human being we knew and who she is today,” Tortoreo said with his voice breaking.
“2,369 days ago, our first granddaughter, Kasley was born,” he said. “Our granddaughter, Oakley, was born 1,637 days ago. And 907 days ago our beautiful grandson was born.”
Tortoreo then said, “179 days ago, Cassandra was accepted at Amarillo College’s Nursing Program, my beautiful, amazing daughter, Cassandra.”
Cassandra then took the microphone and said, “Well, my name is Cassandra and I have 3,220 days clean today,” while the crowd cheered and roared. “My heart is so full of gratitude for everyone at DWC. My family, my children my grandmother, my parents, my mom and dad, and my brother and God.
“None of this would have happened without you guys,” she said.
“My story is a reflection of the power of the recovery program through DWC. With the love, support and guidance from DWC and all of you, these women will have the opportunity to become everything they were meant to be, just like me,” she said.
Her father, Tom, then told the crowd that he told his daughter that if she immersed herself into the program, she would become the poster child, and claimed that now she is — with her photo, with him, embracing on the cover of the Daily Devotional, which they sold for $10 to members of the audience. They are also sold at their stores for $20.
Certificates for 25% off at the DWC stores were also left at the tables for Thrift City, Uptown Shoppe and Thrift City Too.
He urged the crowd to contribute to the women and their incredible journey to help impact the lives of families, along with the community.
Cassandra’s case manager then spoke about being proud of her and the work she put in, along with all the ladies that put in the same work, every single day to transform their lives.
“We do it together, we’re a team and we walk beside it,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: DWC Luncheon celebrates women’s freedom from addiction
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
