TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL/The Insiders ) -- Life after prison is never easy, even with the help of re-entry programs. The Living Harvest is a facility that opened in 2013 and so far has helped about 30 people get back on their feet.
Leaders of the organization visit various state prisons and court systems in North Florida. They offer help to former inmate transitioning into society into becoming productive members of society as long as they were not violent offenders or sex offenders.
"I got to a point in my life where my life was just a mess, and I was completely broken," said ex-offender Jerry Harris.
Harris got in legal trouble and couldn't stop drinking.
"I went to prison before for a third DUI and a minor wreck, and I got out of there, stayed out a year and I know I needed help so I came to this program."
He's now living in a home on the south side of town run by The Living Harvest called the Serenity House. Leaders of the organization say it's a safe and drug free place that houses six men.
Harris has been at the home for four months, maintaining a sober life with the goal of fully reuniting with his family.
Harris spends his time arranging items for resale in the thrift shop which raises money for program.
"We actually have a place where we provide housing, food, and shelter, and we start a with a process where a lot of them have addiction counseling," said Dick Collins. "They go through recovery programs. They go to church."
Co-founder, Dale White, understands first hand what Harris is going through because at one point in his life, he spent time behind bars.
"My short story is countless detoxes, five treatment centers, four DUI's, six and half years in prison, and I got out of prison and back to doing the same thing," said White.
It's been a long recovery for White, but now he's doing well with a circle of support.
Some of the biggest hurdles the organization faces is finding resources because White says people don't want to donate to someone coming out of prison.
"It's mainly because they feel they still need to be punished. Whatever the case may be, the problem with that is, if we don't help them they come back out and commit more crimes and more victims," said White.
As for Harris, his goals are to move up in the ministry and land a position.
"It's put my life in a new perspective," said Harris. "It's teaching me to live my life without alcohol in my life, and I'm at this point, very happy."
The Living Harvest counts on funds from the thrift store, donations, and grants to keep its doors open. They're also plan to open a second store on West Tharpe Street in June.
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