Chrisrandra's Story
Thirty years of heroin and crack cocaine will wreak havoc on a person’s body. When Chrisrandra Taylor looked at herself in the mirror, she didn’t recognize who she saw in the reflection. The person looking back at her had sunken cheeks, a gaunt body and a dull complexion. She was a shell of who she used to be. Chrisrandra was tired. She was tired of being sick all the time and the constant pain.
She had gone through five treatment programs, but nothing ever “stuck.” Chrisrandra reached a turning point in her life one particular day as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bag containing drugs. She knew it was time to take control of her life.
“Nothing is going to change, until you’re ready for a change,” she said.
She knelt on the floor and prayed to God asking Him to show her the way. She found her beacon of hope at The Salvation Army Harbor Light in Detroit. As soon as she walked in the door, Chrisrandra felt that everything had fallen into place. She found herself in a safe space where she could recover from years of addiction, and a family who she could depend upon for support.
While going through treatment, she began attending church again on a regular basis. It was in the chapel of The Salvation Army Harbor Light where she met her future husband. Greg and Chrisrandra knew of each other because they ran in the same circles. As their relationship developed, they discovered they were compatible on many levels. Both had been on the streets and received meals from The Salvation Army’s Bed & Bread trucks.
“If it weren’t for that truck, I wouldn’t have eaten at all,” Chrisrandra said. “I would spend what little money I had on drugs, not leaving anything for food.”
After completing treatment, Chrisrandra wanted to help others who were hungry and homeless, and began volunteering her time on The Salvation Army Bed & Bread trucks. Additionally, she found employment at her former residence – The Salvation Army Booth Services and Ellen Thompson Center – working as part of the pastoral team and helping shelter residents learn valuable technical skills. She remembered what it was like being on the streets and wanted to give hope to those in similar situations.
Throughout all of this, Chrisrandra continued her relationship with God...and Greg. On Nov. 1, 2014, Chrisrandra and Greg tied the knot in the same chapel where they officially first met. Four years later, the Taylors work for The Salvation Army in different capacities and share their stories of hope and recovery with those in similar situations.
Today, Chrisrandra helps others battling addiction as a peer recovery mentor at The Salvation Army Harbor Light campuses in Mt. Clemens and Monroe. Greg maneuvers Detroit neighborhood streets as a Bed & Bread truck driver, dispensing food and encouragement in equal portions to those seeking daily nourishment.
“Through the help of The Salvation Army, Greg and I were able to find our way out of the darkness,” said Chrisrandra. “We’re absolutely blessed to have found each other, and work with others to help break the cycle of addiction."
If you are inspired by Chrisrandra's story, you can support the Bed & Bread Club by making a donation.