A farm boy from West Virginia, Bennie only had a sixth grade education, but he knew the value of a hard day’s work. Even during his roughest years, struggling against drug addiction, Bennie provided for his family. However, when his wife passed away, his daughters cut all ties with him. He ended up in prison, and when he got out, no one was there for him. He decided The City Mission was his only option, but his first stay didn’t last long.
The emotional intensity of the classes at The City Mission scared him, and he wanted to be independent. Bennie bought a van and left the Mission to for a job as a handyman and carpenter. Then an injury took his livelihood away. Unable to work, Bennie couldn’t make ends meet on his small, fixed income. This time, he decided to give the program at Crossroads Men’s Crisis Center a real chance.