Village of Hope helps men recover from addiction, prison

Men coming out of prison and off addictions in New Brunswick are trying to turn over a new leaf by running a maple syrup business.

The Village of Hope, a men'scentrein Tracy, has built a growing sugar shack operation.More than 1,100 maple trees have been tapped this year.

The operation isrun by men working to gettheir lives back on track.

"It's a good thing,I'm happy," said Jeremy Robinson, who was sentenced to five years in prison before coming to thecentre.

"I'm so glad I came here instead of keeping on drinking and drugging. That road would have ledto a terrible ending, and Iwas very close to it.It's a lot better than where I was."

As long as men have the drive to change, and aren't a threat to themselves or othersChristian-basedcentreaccepts anyone. Even those that apply from prison.

"I've been in and out of jail since I was 14," saysChristopher Morehouse of Saint John.

"Now I've been here two years and I think it's great. I love it.

In the past judges have allowed men who are awaiting sentencing to stay at the centreinstead of being held in custody.

On oneoccasiona judge whoconvicted and sentenced one young man spent an afternoon at thecentreto celebrate that sameman'sgraduation.

'We keep growing'

The sugar shack has been a part of The Village of Hope for several years now, continuing to expandeach spring.

"We're at 1,100 buckets now," says Andrew Vahi, the president and founder.

"Last year was our worst season, but the season before that I think was our best. But we keep growing."

"Most of the syrup we give away," said Vahi.

"The guys give it back to those who donate to us."

GregRasmussen,originallyfrom Virginia,is a leader at thecentreand graduate the program.

"When I was 23, I was living in my car and I was addicted to crackcocaine, says Rasmussen.

"If you told me nine years ago I'd be up here in Canada running a maple sugar shack I wouldn't have believed you."

Rasmussensays he wants to somedayhand off his role at thecentreto someone who needs it more than he does.

"We hope is that if there is a guy living on the streets right now, who might be sticking a needle in his arm or doing some sort of other crazydrugs, who thinks there is no hope for his lifeor that there's no point in livingthatone day he would be running this place or he would be doing my job," he said.