A Ripple of Restoration

Shannon’s transformation has helped change the lives of other women.

Shannon’s story is one of faith, resilience and the ripple effect one restored life can have on another. 

Raised by a single mother who worked tirelessly to support her and her sister, Shannon still grew up feeling the absence of her biological father. She struggled with questions of self-worth, and turned to alcohol before entering high school. Soon, alcohol became a normal part of her life. Then, as she grew older, drinking spiraled into a dangerous wave of addiction.

As she entered high school, Shannon hid her drinking and the turmoil she felt inside by maintaining good grades. But then, she found herself pregnant at 17. Determined to give her son, Donnie, a good life, Shannon stayed with his father, even after he began battling substance abuse. 

For eight years Shannon struggled to stay in the relationship as his addiction worsened. But by age 22, she finally broke off the relationship because Donnie’s dad refused to stay on the path to recovery. Alone with her son, she eventually met another recovering addict and before long she found herself hooked on Percocet, then heroine. Her life became a cycle of using, stealing from relatives, and trying to stay afloat.

Legal troubles that led to God

After several failed attempts at sobriety, Shannon ended up being arrested and went to jail for 40 days for using her aunt’s credit card to buy drugs.  Once released she eventually landed in Narcotics Anonymous (NA), where she finally surrendered to God.

It was Shannon’s faith in God that finally brought clarity. She became sober and began to put the pieces of her life back together. “You find life when you lay yours down,” she says 

After 9 years of sobriety, Shannon faced another relapse in 2019, when the challenges of losing her job and the isolation of the COVID pandemic drove her back into the depths of addiction. Fentanyl, crack, meth, and opioids then consumed her life. In January 2021, at her lowest point, Shannon knew she had a choice: go to Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge (PAATC) or face death from addiction.

From Rock Bottom to Restoration

Shannon entered and completed our program, finding not only sobriety but a calling to serve and the strength to lift up other women in need. Now, a beloved, full-time employee of PAATC, Shannon’s faith has helped her grow into a true leader, as she encourages other women to stay in the program and do the work needed to restore their lives.

Today, Shannon, is married to her best friend, Mark, and has a beautiful relationship with her son. Her journey stands as a testament that no matter how dark the path, God can restore a life — and that restoration can have a ripple effect that touches others.

Shannon’s life today and the outcomes she helps achieve for others facing addiction is truly inspiring — and it is only possible through God’s grace and the gifts of friends like you.

Thank you for your support of Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge and Naaman. You are supporting transformations that will affect generations to come.

From our CEO

This Christmas season, your support is a true gift of hope. 

Our mission is clear: to help men and women break free from the grips of addiction and return to their families and communities as whole, healthy individuals. People like Shannon, a member of the PAATC family whose story is featured in these pages.

As we enter the Christmas season, others like Shannon need our help, and your support is more critical than ever. The streets are getting colder, threatening the lives of thousands in Kensington and beyond. For many who have found their way to our safe shelter, the holidays bring other challenges. Feelings of loneliness, depression, and despair often intensify during this time. 

But through your generosity, we are able to expand our reach and services to meet the heightened need this holiday season. This includes increasing our bed count in Rehrersburg and opening new locations for support throughout Pennsylvania, all while offering free resources and outreach in the heart of Kensington.

We are committed to providing Christ-centered care to every individual who walks through our door, no matter how far they’ve fallen. Together, we are showing people that their lives have immense value, and that with God, all things are possible.

As we enter the holiday season and look ahead toward the new year, I am filled with hope and anticipation. I know that with your continued partnership we will see even greater transformations in the months to come. Please consider a gift to our scholarship program at this critical time.

Thank you for walking alongside us in this mission. 

In gratitude,

Kris J. McFadden, Sr., M.A.R.
President/CEO