Meet Sammy: Hope Beyond Addiction
For years, Sammy Lyles made a living cleaning up after hurricanes—working long hours, managing crews, and traveling up and down the East Coast. On paper, as far as others could see, things looked fine. But beneath the surface, addiction was running the show.
“I was a functioning addict for years,” Sammy said. “I always managed to hold it together—until I didn’t.”
“I’d gotten pretty good at being a functioning addict…”
When a job fell through and his truck’s engine blew, Sammy tried to get back on his feet. He planned to sell what he could, find a job he could walk to, and recover. But addiction had other plans. “I smoked it all up and ended up on the streets.”
For eight months, Sammy lived day to day, hustling to survive. When he finally got sober, the full weight of his situation hit. That’s when he turned to The Salvation Army in Lake Charles.
“The hardest thing wasn’t giving up drugs—it was giving up control,” Sammy said. “Learning to trust someone else to help guide me. That’s what changed everything.”
At The Salvation Army, Sammy found not just shelter but a support system. A nearby pastor invited him to church one day, and that simple invitation sparked a transformation. He became a regular, got baptized, found purpose—and even a job helping build a new church.
With that first job came another, better paying one. He saved money, bought a car, and began doing delivery work to increase his income. Now, Sammy is just weeks away from moving into his own apartment.
“The Salvation Army connected me to resources I didn’t even know existed. They gave me structure, encouragement, and people who genuinely cared whether I succeeded,” Sammy said. “They’ve been my rock. Helping me set goals, reminding me to stay hungry, and showing me ways to help myself.”
From functioning addict to faithful believer. From temporary shelter to long-term stability. Sammy’s story is a powerful reminder that real change is possible—with help, hope, and hard work.