Take a look at the latest edition of the Victory Voice!
APRIL 2021
A Connection That Saved My Life THE TRUE STORY OF ROLANDO RUIZ Victory Auto Service is proud to support MN Adult & Teen Challenge (MNATC), a
As a dealer, I liked that people wanted to be around me. I didn’t get high at first, but then I started using weed all the time, just to escape. Then, I fell into hallucinogens and methamphetamine. I got kicked out of school, and I turned to crime to make money. It felt like the only path available to me. I like saying I wasn’t a good criminal — I kept going to jail. But, sadly, prison time was a “rite of passage” for my family. They’d tell me, “Good job, you didn’t snitch on no one.” I’d take the consequences for family members and be congratulated for it. I spent all of my 20s locked up — I just figured that crime, jail, and getting out would be the normal cycle in my life. The courts sent me to various addiction recovery programs, but nothing worked for me. I tried to clean up to please society or a girlfriend, but when I finally got a job, a car, and sobriety, whenever I was alone, I knew something was wrong and felt off. I built myself up and threw it all away because I didn’t know how to handle change. So, after being busted again, I pleaded with the judge, “Just give me 90 days.” For me, it was just another round. He looked at me incredulously and said, “If you go to MN Adult & Teen Challenge, I’ll let you go here and now.”
MN Adult & Teen Challenge changed my life. Little by little, I discovered how much God means to me, and that shaped my entire vision for my future. I used to be extremely suspicious whenever anyone would ask me about how I’m doing. I’d ask myself: Why do they care? What’s the payoff for them? But, with MNATC, I realized that I was the payoff, and nothing else. I never paid to be in their program; their generous love, support, and guidance were free to me because of donors and supporters. There was a time when I took a break from the facility to attend a family barbecue. My family congratulated me for doing so well at MNATC. My family was still getting high and drinking, and they’d tell me I didn’t have to use drugs to sell them. It was extremely confusing. I got high when I got back to treatment. I told the staff, “I don’t know who I am. I want to be accepted by my family, but I’m not living how they do.” I expected to be kicked out. Thankfully, the staff saw the turmoil I was in, and I didn’t get kicked out. I asked why, and they said, “There are people who believe in you.” I’d never heard that so sincerely before.
local faith-based addiction recovery program, and today, we have a special story from someone who experienced their 13-month program. Rolando has inspired us so much! We are honored he would share his story with the Victory Auto family. Stories like Rolando’s are why we are passionate about being involved with our local community. Hello, everyone. I’m Rolando! When I was born, my mother was incarcerated for drug use and illegal activity. You could say I was born in a prison, and unfortunately, that saying was prophetic for the life I’d lead in the upcoming years. I thought it was normal to not feel wanted at home. I always had to live with family members who were drinking, abusing drugs, and abusing each other mentally, emotionally, and physically. Rejection was a constant in my life; I never understood what a secure home felt like. That’s when I felt pushed into the streets and the wrong crowds — without knowing it, I needed to find what I was looking for. Although I wanted emotional intimacy and connection, drugs were easier to get a hold of. For example, I started babysitting my sister’s kids, and she’d pay me in weed. She told me I could sell it, so I did and became a dealer.
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Hello friend, I’m Rich Scherber, executive director of MN Adult & Teen Challenge (MNATC) and friend of Victory Auto Service. When I was 12 years old, I was a drug addict and heading down a path to a premature death. Eventually, I was able to get help and turn my life around. But not everyone is so fortunate. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, each year, 1 in 4 adults will suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. This immediately puts them at addiction risk. The National Bureau of Economic Research reports that people who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder at some point in their lives are responsible for the consumption of 69% of alcohol, and 84% of cocaine in the U.S. From July 2019 to July 2020, overdose deaths increased by 22.8% according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. TOGETHER, WE CAN HELP Answering the Call to Treat Substance Abuse and the Mental Health Crisis
Minnesota Twins You don’t make it to the playoffs with the best record in all of baseball and not make it into some kind of list. The Twins are going to be a fun team to watch because they have a chip on their shoulders. While the team managed to score 269 runs in just 60 games, they also lost their record-breaking 18th straight playoff game in 2020. If they can get consistent pitching, from starters and relievers, they will be in the hunt at the end of September. Detroit Tigers There is a benefit to repeatedly being near the bottom of the league: You get good draft picks. The Tigers are on the cusp of finding that special blend of offense and defense in the coming season thanks to some much-needed depth by up-and-coming pitchers and first-round draft picks — so much so that Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has them as the top team that missed the playoffs in 2020 who could make a solid run. This is no joke: The 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) season will begin on April 1. While you may wonder whether the Los Angeles Dodgers can repeat as champs or if the Tampa Bay Rays can exact their revenge, don’t count these four teams out just yet. DON’T COUNT THEM OUT 4 Teams to Watch This Baseball Season
We are experiencing a wave of mental health and substance abuse like never before seen in our communities.
Often, when people are suffering from mental health or substance abuse, they feel like they have no hope. They feel unwanted. They feel like a burden. They want to change, but often they don’t know how and only feel more condemned that they can’t change. I know how they feel. I felt the same way. MNATC is here to help answer the call and meet the need. Recently, we received a letter from Charity Navigator — an organization that measures the transparency and impact of charities — and discovered that we were rated in the top 6% of over 9.5 million charities nationwide. I desire to give everyone suffering from addiction the same outcome our friend Rolando, from the cover story, experienced. His story is an example of what is possible. But Rolando’s story wouldn’t be possible without individuals and active supporters like Jeff and the team at Victory Auto Service who genuinely want the best for people and their community. Businesses like Victory allow us to offer life-changing programs free of charge to people at their lowest moment in life, and I am grateful for their involvement. About 95% of our clients never pay us a dime.
St. Louis Cardinals The award for best offseason ought to go to the Cardinals, who, all winter long, appear to have outwitted their Milwaukee and Chicago rivals — the Brewers and Cubs were the top two teams in the National League Central last year — by acquiring third baseman Nolan Arenado and re-signing Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. The Cardinals are favored to win the Central if those off-season moves pay off. San Diego Padres After acquiring Manny Machado in a big trade in 2019, the Padres have continued to improve, especially against difficult opponents. The Padres were a tough team last year, defeating the Cardinals in the wild card round and losing to the eventual World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Expect them to be near the top of the standings in September.
My dream is to see everyone who truly needs treatment be able to get the help they need. Together, we can help answer the call to solve the substance abuse and mental health crisis we face. If you or anyone you know wants help to defeat substance abuse, please call us at 612-FREEDOM, email us at info@mntc.org, or visit us at MNTC.org. We are here for you!
All of my best,
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Vacation Destinations That Will Pay You to Visit
In the wake of COVID-19, tourist destinations worldwide have been hit hard. To lure travelers back, some places are offering steep discounts and other incentives throughout all of 2021. With cheap airfare and great deals on accommodations, tours, food, and more, you can take a luxury vacation on a dime this year. Mexican Caribbean Few words evoke the image of beaches, sun, and saltwater like “Cancun” does. This Mexican locale has become synonymous with leisure, as have other destinations in the Caribbean — beautiful places like Isla Mujeres or the Riviera Maya. Tourists can visit all of them at a steep discounted rate until the end of
2021 thanks to promotions from the Hotel Association of Cancun and the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion’s council. Head to En.Come2MexicanCaribbean.com to find vouchers for two free nights in a hotel for every two you pay for, steeply discounted airfare, and even options for free food and drinks.
free meals, round-trip airport service, and discounted beach picnics and boat tours. Check out CapeFahnHotel.com/offers for more information. Whistler, British Columbia Although this destination in British Columbia might be known for its winter activities, there’s a lot to love about Whistler in late spring and early summer! One great thing? The amazing array of money-saving options you can find here. The Riverside Resort, for example, is offering mountain-view cabins at a 3-for-2 discount — pay for two nights and get a third for free! Traveling to Canada can be tricky at the moment, but if you use a good travel agent, you can take advantage of some great deals. Other incentives in the region include free meals (or a per diem meal rebate) as well as discounts on guided tours.
Thai Paradise Although it’s no longer the hidden
destination it once was, there are still a lot of good reasons to visit Thailand. In addition to being an affordable place to travel, Thailand also has great food and an amazing climate. To make up for the financial hit due to suspended travel because of the virus, the Cape Fahn Hotel is offering incentives into 2021 including a complimentary upgrade to the next class of care, which gives economy spenders access to executive accommodations. Other incentives include
RHUBARB OAT BARS Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
... continued from Cover
Ingredients • 1 1/2 cups fresh
I never felt like I was wanted like that before — just for being me.
• 4 tsp cornstarch • 1 cup old-fashioned oats • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/3 cup butter, melted
rhubarb, chopped • 1 cup packed brown sugar, divided • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice • 4 tbsp water, divided
It was a critical moment for me. Even though I was at the lowest point of my life, for the first time, I didn’t feel ashamed. I felt a conviction to not get high again, and I surrendered my life to God. I began living better by His grace and dug into the Bible. Today, I am sober and off drugs thanks to MNATC. I am grateful for individuals and businesses like Victory Auto Service & Glass who make it possible for people to get the help they need at their lowest moments. I now work with MNATC as a public speaker. I tell my story to schools, prisons, even police stations where I’d been previously apprehended. I’ll be attending North Central University for an associate degree in business, but my dream is to go to law school and continue this seemingly new path that, perhaps, God always had waiting for me.
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish. 2. In a medium saucepan, bring rhubarb, 1/2 cup brown sugar, lemon juice, and 3 tbsp water to a boil. 3. Reduce heat to medium and cook until rhubarb is tender (about 5 minutes). 4. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and remaining water, stirring until smooth. 5. Gradually add to the rhubarb mixture, return to a boil, and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside. 6. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, coconut, salt, and remaining brown sugar. Stir in butter until mixture is crumbly. 7. Press half of the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish, spread rhubarb mixture on top, then sprinkle with remaining oat mixture. 8. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely before enjoying!
If you or anyone you know is struggling with substance addiction, please call MNATC right away! It changed my life.
-Rolando Ruiz
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1 A Connection That Saved My Life 2 4 MLB Teams Poised for a Great Season 2 What Is MN Adult & Teen Challenge? 3 Vacations That Pay 3 Rhubarb Oat Bars 4 Meet Lori Higgins, President of
MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce
An Expert in Patience MEET LORI HIGGINS, PRESIDENT OF METRONORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
With her thesis and long-term experience, you could say she’s now an expert in patience.
Leading a nonprofit is tough work — most nonprofit executives retire after 3–5 years. That’s certainly not the case for Lori Higgins, who has been president of MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce (MNCC) for over 11 years! She was the first female executive in the 53-year history of the organization. Day to day, Lori helps execute the vision of the organization’s board of directors by overseeing the operations of the office and working on their initiatives. From advocacy efforts to workforce development programs, MNCC does a lot of work every day to promote businesses in the community.
local congressman who represented the Blaine area. She spent eight years in that position and had interacted with MNCC through her job. After a stint with a private company, Lori realized serving the community was her true calling. She even wrote her master’s thesis on chamber executives while studying leadership at Augsburg University in Minneapolis.
“Partnerships are everything if you want to be in it for the long run.” Lori told us. “Being able to partner with groups like Victory Auto Service is a blessing to me because they are the type of business we love to develop in our community. Jeff and the team there have built a top- notch organization, and I am thankful they partner with us.” Victory prides itself on being connected to customers and our local community. An important way we do that is by being a member of the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce. We love their thriving initiatives and programs, and we have Lori Higgins to thank for that.
Why is it, though, that nonprofit executives often retire so quickly?
Higgins says, “Things take time in the nonprofit world.” Most projects take decades to complete, and it’s a tough lesson to learn that you may not even accomplish your mission statement in your lifetime.
Serving her community isn’t a new thing for Lori. She previously worked for a
Learn more about MNCC and their projects at MetroNorthChamber.org .
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