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Barbara Comito, former marketing director

Jim and Ken
linda with resident

4 min read

Recovery Changes People.

...and not always just the people you think. “In the interviewing process for potential staff, I always communicate that if they choose to accept employment at the Union Gospel Mission, the person who will grow and change the most will most likely...

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blank notebook.small

4 min read

2019 Resolutions

Words to Direct Our Paths There's something about a new notebook, a blank calendar, a freshly tilled plot of soil that beckons us. It's a fresh...

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holding hands

4 min read

Death and Christmas

My dad died on December 12 of this year. His death was by no means a tragedy. He was 89 years old, had lived a full, meaningful life and died...

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fall 2018 collage 3

2 min read

Real people. Real change.

On the surface, Mike, Debra, Justin and Samantha have seemingly nothing in common. Justin was born in Chicago with alcohol and meth in his system....

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Elizabeth had continual thoughts of suicide.

5 min read

Elizabeth: Under a Shadow

I came to Anna Ogden Hall in May 2017, just so broken. I didn’t think I could get more broken. I was like no smile at all. I would cry all the time...

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Janie Edwards garden

2 min read

Beauty from Ashes. Literally.

Two years ago, UGM Women’s Recovery at Anna Ogden Hall became a non-smoking program and facility. Lots of discussion, work and ongoing challenges...

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ben2

4 min read

Defining Toughness

Ben Riggs knows tough. A former Marine from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment, Ben was a soldier’s soldier, part of a “grunt unit,” infantry, “tip of...

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Stephanie and a few friends from the Center for Women and Children competed in Hoopfest together in 2017.

3 min read

Recovery from Abandonment

Stephanie sums up her childhood in just a few phrases: “A lot of broken promises, fighting, a lot of neglect, never being told I love you. No...

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jn2

4 min read

Recovery: Facing Anger at God

“I was really angry with God and confused about…Well, if God really loves me, then how come I had to go through all this stuff? You know, there’s...

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Adam and Jerry

4 min read

Forgiving Yourself as Part of Recovery

Shame says… You are ugly. You are stupid. You are worthless. If people knew the real you, they would hate you. Work harder, do more, try to earn love...

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Barbstrong

3 min read

The Problem with Self-Improvement

I am highly susceptible to self-improvement plans, especially those that lay out steps to success: Do these 5 things and you will be a better wife,...

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Dyann has escaped domestic violence and now loves to serve others.

4 min read

Dyann escaped domestic violence but had nowhere to go

Dyann was married to a man who abused her for five years. He hit her. He pushed her down stairs. At one point, she ended up in the emergency room...

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The staff at the Men's Shelter have recently been focusing on building relationships with homeless guests. Accepting and listening to people tell their stories is a gift in itself.

4 min read

What You Have to Offer a Homeless Person: Acceptance

Over the past two months, we’ve been talking a lot about partnership – how church and business partners, volunteers and donors are the lifeblood of...

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3 min read

Not Caring is Not an Option

Each year, I choose a different devotional to guide my early morning time with God. I started with one of my favorites, Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost...

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4 min read

#Blessed

A friend on Facebook recently posted a picture of her new wood flooring and her new granite countertops with the hashtag #blessed. She’s expressing...

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After 15 years of off-and-on homelessness, Marcus is getting help with managing his depression without using drugs.

5 min read

Why World Homeless Day?

You might be asking: Why is UGM making such a big deal of World Homeless Day? How does a day devoted to homelessness really help anything? Actually,...

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Heather laughing.jpg

2 min read

The Courage to Speak

Recently I was asked what I love best about my job. I could have said writing. I have wanted to be a writer since my second grade teacher, Mrs....

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4 min read

Jason Had 3 Shoes. God Gave Him 3 Stores.

In the Business of Giving Back - Jason McSteen gives where he does business. Looking at him today – married, prosperous, the owner of a successful...

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Barbara with Honda Element from UGM Motors

2 min read

Why I Bought My Car at UGM Motors

I recently bought a 2003 Honda Element with 127,000 miles at UGM Motors for $6,700. I looked around a bit on Craigslist first, but I didn’t go to any...

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Go outside

6 min read

My Personal Suicide Prevention Plan

Editor's note: Barbara opened up about her struggle with depression in the last post. Here, she follows up with the practical ways she manages that...

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4 min read

I Have a Mental Illness

By Barbara Comito, Director of Marketing & Communications I once interviewed a teenager who described her depression as a “blanket on the brain.” The...

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IMG_6390.jpg

3 min read

The Paralyzing Nature of Anxiety

Editor’s note: Recently we’ve been talking about mental struggles on the Impact Blog. From insomnia to trauma and addiction, there are many struggles...

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Serious mental illness

2 min read

Mental Illness: An Obstacle for the Homeless – and Many Others

It’s hard to talk about homelessness without talking about mental illness. An oft-quoted estimate suggests that as many as one-third of homeless...

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people on escalator

4 min read

Does God Hate the Rich?

Recently we ran a series on God’s love for the poor which, in my mind at least, begs the question: “How does he feel about the rich?” Does he love...

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2L7A0419

4 min read

10 Things You Should Know About the UGM Crisis Shelter

The UGM Crisis Shelter for Women and Children is approaching its 13th anniversary in January. While the surroundings have changed dramatically in the...

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