{"id":899,"date":"2020-12-17T15:12:05","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T15:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bowery.org\/updates\/?p=899"},"modified":"2026-01-08T17:43:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T17:43:59","slug":"wilmons-hope-story-a-second-chance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bowery.org\/updates\/2020\/12\/wilmons-hope-story-a-second-chance\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilmon’s hope story: A second chance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wilmon went from feeling miserable and isolated on the streets to encouraged and cared for at The Bowery Mission.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It was December when Wilmon arrived in New York City. He had been living in South Carolina, but needed to leave quickly after narrowly escaping a search warrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI used to drive for drug dealers, delivering drugs to support my cocaine habit,\u201d Wilmon says. \u201cI almost got caught by the police. So I came to the Bronx, but ended up homeless.\u201d He spent a week riding the train for shelter before arriving at The Bowery Mission for a meal and a safe place to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI saw how different people were at the Mission,\u201d Wilmon says. \u201cThey didn\u2019t talk down to me, but spoke respectfully and really cared for me. That encouraged me to get into the Residential Programs. The Lord gave me a second chance coming to the Mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through classes and with help from one of our counselors, Wilmon learned how to deal with his addiction and painful past. \u201cMy relationship with God grew,\u201d he says. And through career support, he earned his commercial driver\u2019s license and started driving for The Bowery Mission. \u201cWhen I was asked to be supervisor of transportation at the Mission, it was very emotional to me,\u201d he says. \u201cI was being trusted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flashback to 2010:<\/strong> Wilmon when he first graduated The Bowery Mission’s Residential Programs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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