River of Refuge newsletter, November 2025

River of Refuge Extends Stay for Mom Recuperating from Brain Surgery

Anita Corwin moves into an Independence, Missouri, apartment next month, and loves her work as a supervisor at a hotel on the Country Club Plaza.

At 36 years old, and the mother of three boys, she has overcome a family history of addiction that had her abusing drugs and alcohol even before she was a teenager.

But after getting sober, and while working the program at River of Refuge, Corwin faced a monumental health crisis: A brain tumor that required more than six hours of surgery.

Ramifications from the surgery meant Corwin had to relearn even basic tasks like walking and telling time — rehab River of Refuge helped facilitate by extending her stay by three months and allowing her mother to come live with her in her ROR apartment. She spent nearly a year at ROR before leaving in the spring.

“They really took care of me,” Corwin said of River of Refuge staff.

Living at River of Refuge helped her catch her breath — “just being stable for a minute, (having) people around you that care, that want you to succeed. That program is anointed.”

While at River of Refuge, Corwin’s mom helped her learn to walk again by tying a rope around Corwin’s stomach as she used her walker for support. She has been walking without the walker for about three months now.

Corwin also needed assistance with cooking and keeping track of her medications. She credited River of Refuge staff with helping her advocate against being prescribed hard pain killers because of her past addiction.

Her mind fog was like being back to where she was before getting sober.

“When you’re really confused in addiction, sometimes you’re just not really mentally there,” Corwin said. “And that’s how I felt.”

Corwin’s progress at River of Refuge included clearing up 11 outstanding warrants, paying off $6,000 in legal-related debt, and saving about $20,000, which included a tax refund. She also got her driver’s license reinstated.

Corwin moved to the Kansas City area from Oklahoma when she was in ninth grade, squeaking by enough to graduate from William Chrisman High School in Independence.

She came to River of Refuge after spending a year in a sober living facility, where she went after serving seven months in jail for a burglary she said someone else committed.

It was upon her release from jail, and finding that her boys had been mistreated while living with a friend while she was incarcerated, that Corwin resolved to get sober through faith in a higher power that seemed to lead her to River of Refuge.

“Since I got out of jail that day and went to rehab, everything’s been playing out like that,” Corwin said. “It is crazy what God has done.”

River of Refuge accelerated her movement down the path laid out by divine intervention, she said, and Corwin knows River of Refuge staff remain allies.

“I met a lot of good people there, and I know that I can always count on them if I need something,” she said. “Like minds [will] come together, and we’ll figure something out.”

 

River of Refuge Hosts Annual Thanksgiving Meal

River of Refuge families, staff, and volunteers gathered Monday evening for our traditional “Thanksgathering” meal. Some photos from the event are below.

 

FROM THE DIRECTOR

The holidays are in full swing at the River of Refuge, and this time of year is one of the busiest and most enjoyable periods we spend with our families.

But before I dig into everything that is on our plate for the holiday season, I want to look back to our fundraising gala in late October.

The event was a big success, with 175 guests, and we are indebted to The Cocherl Family Foundation for allowing us to use their beautiful building in south Overland Park. A big thank you as well to Nigro Brothers Auctioneers and to Jack Stack BBQ for the catering.

But the most moving part of the night wasn’t even on the schedule. That’s because our case manager, Michelle Baker, took the microphone as a last-minute fill-in and awed the audience with her moving personal story:

She moved past her addiction working the program at River of Refuge before returning to us as a most valuable employee. Her tearful speech was all the more inspiring because she barely had any time to work on it.

This is what her daughter posted on Facebook following the gala:

Last night at the River of Refuge gala, my mom took the mic with courage to speak her story.

She’s six years sober, enjoying life with her family.

She was once a resident at the River of Refuge fighting for our family’s footing. Now she’s a case manager there, fighting for other families to stand & have hope.

River of Refuge saved us in ways that don’t fit in a headline but can be defined by the words: Structure. Dignity. Hope. Peace.

I watched my mom choose hard honesty over easy habits.

I watched my mom find stability & a future.

I watched our family rebuild from the inside out.

And now she shows up there for other families, with empathy so great that only lived experience can offer.

Mom, I am so proud of you.

You are proof that recovery is real, that families are worth keeping together, and that love changes everything. You shine in everyone’s world & impact so many lives, but mine most of all.

Thank you, River of Refuge, for giving us a path — and for giving my mom a place to pour it back out.

If there’s ever a doubt why we do what we do — which there never is — Michelle and her family reaffirm why everyone on our small staff works so hard for our families.

I know I speak a lot about gratitude in my letters, but I can’t help but talk about it again in this issue.

First off, we are very grateful to the owner of the space where we held the gala, Mr. Cocherl, for his $25,000 match during the fund-a-need portion of the evening.

We are also so very blessed with all of the wonderful people who volunteer with us throughout the year.

Some get to know us through a company volunteer event and return with their families at another opportunity to give their time.

That’s what happened this year as we celebrated Thanksgiving on Monday evening with the families. A volunteer who came earlier in the year through his employer, Benesch Engineering, brought his three kids and wife back to serve dinner to our families.

What a blessing!

In December, we will continue our celebrations with a Christmas Party for our families, complete with Santa.

Messiah Church of the Brethren is again making and filling stockings for each of our kiddos. We appreciate this group as they have become our celebration partners.

We’ll also have our second and final graduation of the year. We are so thankful for each and every family who enters our program and moves to their own stable home at the end of their stay.

We appreciate everyone who helps us do what we do! We couldn’t do it without all of you. Enjoy the holiday season and be thankful if you’re fortunate enough to be celebrating in your own home with plenty of food to fill hungry bellies. Not everyone has this opportunity!

Until Next Time,
Pamela Seymour, Executive Director