By Ana Gomez
Tanya's handwritten pages reveal an extraordinary journey of transformation, resilience, and redemption through community service. Her personal narrative, documented across several numbered entries in a notebook, traces her path from decades of substance abuse and homelessness to becoming a pillar of support for her community, finding purpose and fulfillment in feeding those in need.
For 35 years, Tanya battled the crushing grip of drug and alcohol addiction and doesn't shy away from the devastating consequences this had on her life. The late 1990s marked one of her darkest periods, when she found herself homeless with her two young sons, BJ and Jesse. During this harrowing time, she writes that she "did whatever I had to do to make sure we had a Motel room for the night," hinting at the desperate measures addiction can drive people to take.
Volunteers work to serve food.
On nights when she couldn't secure accommodation, she would arrange for her sons to sleep at her mother's house, a place where she herself "wasn't allowed to be due to my addiction." The pain of this separation is evident in her simple, straightforward recounting of these difficult times.
The turning point in Tanya's life came through a stark medical reality. At age 50, doctors diagnosed her with cirrhosis of the liver and delivered the grave news that if she continued drinking, she "wasn't gonna live much longer." With remarkable clarity, she summarizes this moment: "That's what it came to is Death!" This confrontation with mortality became the catalyst for change.
Today, Tanya proudly shares she has maintained sobriety from methamphetamine for 22 years, an achievement that represents not just personal victory but a complete redirection of her life's purpose.
Tanya's recovery journey led her to discover a passion for serving others through food. She now prepares meals for approximately "100+ individuals each serving," operating out of her modest apartment kitchen. Her process involves preparing food the day prior, utilizing crockpot recipes for efficiency, and scaling up recipes by tripling or quadrupling the amounts.
What makes her work particularly impressive is the scale of her operation relative to her limited resources. She mentions that "the only thing I could like is another OVEN," yet manages to serve large numbers of people despite this constraint. Her son Jesse assists with serving and preparation, continuing the family bond through this shared act of service.
Throughout her writings, Tanya's faith emerges as the cornerstone of both her recovery and her service work. She describes the experience of helping others as "amazing" and leaving her heart "full of God's Grace." She expresses a deep conviction that she's "doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing as God wants me to," finding purpose in her daily work and an understanding of her place in the world.
What distinguishes Tanya's service is the genuine human connection she forms with those she helps. She doesn't view the recipients of her meals as clients or beneficiaries. "I call these people my friends and love each and every one of them and let them know it." This perspective transforms what could be a transactional food service into a community-building exercise centered on dignity and mutual respect.
Tanya takes particular joy in the feedback she receives. She "especially love[s] when they let me know that the food was great and their bellies are FULL." This simple affirmation provides her with the emotional fuel to continue her work.
Despite being the provider of services, Tanya expresses profound gratitude for the support she herself has received. "I received so much love and support from the community and sometimes people I don't even know have helped me through this journey which I'm very thankful." This recognition of interdependence reveals her understanding that healing and service operate as a circular system rather than a one-way street.
Despite—or perhaps because of—her difficult past, Tanya maintains an optimistic outlook about the future. Her goals include finding "different ways to help people" and expressing gratitude to "every person who has supported us on this awesome journey." The transformation from someone who once needed intensive help to someone who now provides it to others represents the ultimate arc of recovery and purpose.
Tanya's story stands as powerful testimony to the capacity for human change and the healing power of purpose. From the brink of death through addiction to creating a meaningful life centered on nourishing others, her journey illuminates how personal suffering can be transformed into compassionate action.
By finding purpose in service and connection through community, Tanya has not only rebuilt her own life but created a ripple effect of positive change that touches hundreds of lives. Her story serves as an inspiration for others facing similar struggles and a reminder that it's never too late to rewrite one's life story.
The American Red Cross thanks The Anschutz Foundation, Haulistic, Civitas Resources Inc., and Tallgrass Energy for making this award possible and for supporting our mission in Colorado and Wyoming.
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