Elliot Friedman volunteers in the Changed Life Recovery Program. For over five years now, he and a small group of men cook a NY strip dinner for the residents and staff on the third Saturday of every month. “They not only bring and cook steaks,” says CLRP Director Carlton Hill, “but they also cook a whole meal. They bring real cutlery, nice plates, and dessert. When dinner is ready, they eat with the guys while enjoying fellowship and watching TV.”
CLRP Case Manager Jake Sexton recalls how meaningful these dinners were to him years ago, when he was a resident in the program. “I remember the impact that Elliot and his group had on us as residents,” he says. “It didn’t matter how the house was doing that day – when it was the third Saturday of the month, morale was up because we knew who was coming that evening and we looked forward to the feast we were about to receive. Our nickname for them was The Steak Guys!”
“It really is the volunteers that make the Changed Life Recovery Program a very special, unique recovery program,” observes Carlton. “It’s a place where the true love of Jesus is on display.” This love is displayed daily through the many volunteers who choose to support CLRP residents through hosting outings, teaching a class, cooking a meal, and more.
Elliot’s commitment to the men in the program reaches beyond service hours, however. At his recent retirement luncheon, Lockheed Martin presented him with a check for Frederick Rescue Mission in his honor. The total donation amount is over $5,000! We are so grateful for this generous contribution to the program, and for the men and women who, like Elliot, pour love into the lives of others. They are a powerful example of how we can change lives now and for eternity.
