Cornerstone Community
Where Community is the Heart of Recovery

Sammy was the first resident of the Cornerstone Community. He was truly an inspiration for me. There were doubts when we first opened our doors. We were not sure if our approach would work. There were countless things that needed to be done—my to-do list grew everyday.

Yet, here was Sammy doing what he needed to do to remain sober and turn his life around. After a long, exhausting day, I would sit down and play a game of cards with Sammy. All the challenges and headaches that every new place has to face would vanish. I was very blessed to have this man in my life. (Tommy Zarembka)

Meet Sammy Thompson

Sitting in the audience at the graduation ceremony of a substance abuse after care treatment program, I was proud to witness what some would describe as a miracle. There was Sammy, the first Cornerstone Community resident, with tears in his eyes receiving his diploma and a perfect attendance award.

As I sat there in the ceremony, I could not help but think back on Sammy’s history. He lost his father at the age of 13 and felt it his duty as the oldest to “step up” and be the “man” of the house and help support his younger siblings. The way he chose to do that – the easiest way in his neighborhood – was on the street selling drugs. It was that lifestyle that eventually resulted in 29 years of drug addiction, a number of years in prison, homelessness and the HIV/AIDS virus. He arrived at Joseph's House (our parent organization) a few years ago weighing about 70 pounds (he has now added about 100 to that). After a large dose of unconditional love and excellent medical care, Sammy regained his health and was able to move out of Joseph's House.

Life after Joseph’s House was not easy for Sammy. Like many former residents of Josephs House, he faced a bitter sweet reality when he got well enough to leave. Even though his health had improved and he was able to walk out of the house, his options for what to do next were up in the air. “I went through a lot of changes after I left Joseph’s House,” he said. “Experiencing life again was hard - it was the outside world. I was a former drug addict and drug dealer.” Sammy would characterize his life the first two years after he left Joseph's House as full of uncertainty.

Without continued support and a safe, caring place to live, habits and lifestyles die hard. But our friends at Joseph’s House kept up with him as much as they could. It was the one place where he knew he would always be loved and accepted. So he kept coming back to visit in some of his worst times. It was during one of those visits that I met Sammy and spent the day with him listening and helping him move from a tiny $500/month room in a dilapidated, drug-infested hell-hole.

From that point we were there to help him through a suicide attempt, get him into treatment twice and being there after he left both times to go back to the drug life. We stood beside him through a drug charge and many difficult times and emotions. But because we stayed with him, we saw him reconcile with his 22-year old daughter and meet his 2 month old son. We celebrated his graduation from an aftercare program. We are about ready to celebrate one year clean and sober with him. It has been a delight to watch his heart change. Then recently to see him dressed in a tuxedo and standing as a groomsman in the wedding of one of our live-in staff members was beyond delight. Leon says that the Cornerstone community saved his life.

In late 2007, Sammy was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died on January 1, 2008. We were blessed to have him as a friend. His memory still inspires us in our community life.