Before finding Club 12, my world was dangerously small and physically breaking. My mornings were defined by severe withdrawal shakes —the result of a daily dependence on whiskey that was slowly claiming my life. I wasn’t just struggling; I was disappearing.

 

The Club changed the trajectory of my life by providing a reliable home base when I had nowhere else to turn. It offered a place to go and hang out that is alcohol free, where I could feel comfortalble both day and night, but the 10:00 PM meeting was my specific lifeline. I truly believe I wouldn’t be celebrating 29 years of sobriety today without that meeting and the late-night fellowship that followed. What began as a place to find a meal on holidays because I was alone has transformed into a community where I now have the privilege of giving back to others.

 

The depth of this support was most evident during a personal crisis 15 years into my sobriety. When my uncle was kidnapped, the people at Club 12 rallied around me. Their strength allowed me to be the man my mother needed—an adult son who could offer stability and comfort. In that time of grief and uncertainty, the Club taught me how to be a true friend and confidant.

 

Today, everything is different. Because of the foundation I built at Club 12, I have graduated from college, established a career, and bought my own home. More importantly, I have traded a life of isolation for lifelong relationships. The Club didn't just help me stop drinking; it gave me the skills and the community to finally start living.

Miguel R​.