The Lufkin Dream Center, a local Christian nonprofit rehabilitation center, will be closing on Dec. 17 because of a lack of funds, according to Jeremiah Campbell, facility director.
“The facility takes a pretty good amount of money to survive,” Campbell said, “And given the nature of our nonprofit, there was not enough donated and received this year to continue, especially given the recent economy.”
Campbell said that many attempts had been made throughout the year to save the facility, but after losing several large contributions from private donors over the past few years, even the community support and a $100,000 grant received in May of this year were not enough to keep the facility alive. Nothing short of a very substantial donation would save it, he said.
“We are definitely in the winding down period of the facility,” Campbell said. “Both the board and the donors decided it was time to be wise and cease operations.”
The rehabilitation program may be closing, but Campbell said the center’s mission will still continue.
“We will continue to do the things the Dream Center was founded on,” he said.
Campbell then listed community efforts that will continue like providing clothing and food for those in need and the Christmas Eve Feed where more than 7,000 people will be fed, but he emphasized the “greater need than the immediate need of food” that the ministry will continue to work toward satisfying even after the closure.
Before he was the director, Campbell was a resident at the Lufkin Dream Center. He was one of the earliest graduates, and he has been an employee for 3 and a half years and director for 2 years. His wife, Meagan, is also an employee at the facility. They have three foster children together.
One of Campbell’s favorite stories of recovery he said touched him the most was the story of a married couple who admitted themselves. At first, Campbell said, they were not happy to be there, but they knew they had a problem. Over the course of their time at the Lufkin Dream Center, they restored their marriage, overcame their addiction, and graduated the program. Today, Campbell said they both have good jobs, and they have regained custody of their children.
Campbell said there are countless other stories he could tell. He is working on helping the current residents to either transfer to a dream center in another city or to make the transition home. He said he cannot force anyone to stay in the program, but he is encouraging them to do so.
