LAKE COUNTY >> Lake County resident Michael Smith is on a monetary and mental mission to make rehab programs in the county more appealing and his catchy t-shirts say it all. His first batch, reading “Sexier Sober,” recently hit the Clearlake RadioShack shelves and sales will benefit those who are financially struggling to get straight.
It”s been a dream of Smith”s ever since he successfully beat his own addictions six years ago. The slogan will finally start making its rounds as people begin purchasing them.
“It”s so catchy, it”s been stuck in my head all these years. I think it”s going to plant a seed in people”s heads,” Smith said. “Hopefully, people in recovery will see them and know they have support out there.”
The shirts will do more than promote sobriety though. At $15 each, all proceeds will be donated to individuals who need financial assistance to attend recovery programs.
“Ideally, I would love to help everybody but it”s going to be up to how the shirts sell,” Smith said. “When I say all proceeds, I mean every dime will be donated to helping people get through their programs.”
Smith is aware that he”ll have to start small. Danny Chew, owner of Clearlake”s RadioShack and Lakeport”s North Lake Computers & Electronics, has donated floor space in both his shops for the t-shirt racks and the items can currently be purchased at the RadioShack. Once sales take off, he plans to look at selling the shirts in Ukiah and expand his base from there.
For now, Smith is focusing on local sales and will wait to get through a third batch of shirts before paying Hilltop Recovery Services a visit to coordinate the donations. Even then, he anticipates donating the funds toward the small projects or expenses in the beginning, such as storage fees for those who have been kicked out of their homes and need a place to store their belongings while they attend programs.
The only full recovery program in the county, Hilltop is in dire need of the help, no matter how small, though.
Local financial support for the center”s services has been extremely low, according to Program Director Ryan Runyon. World Mark, a timeshare in Nice, donated furniture when it renovated its units and a family member of a Hilltop client donated $500 in appreciation. Otherwise, Runyon has trouble recalling any local contributions to their program.
“We get more funding through state assistance and out-of-county contracts than we do from the county,” Runyon said.
The center has a contract with Lake County Behavioral Health and a limited contract with the county”s probation department.
At fees of $2,700 a month, which is considerably lower than most programs according to Runyon, the center has trouble keeping its 61 beds relatively full.
“We average about 40 people, but having open beds in a treatment facility is nearly unheard of. Usually there”s a waiting list but we”ve always had open spots,” Runyon said.
And that”s despite the fact that Lake County has some of the worst rankings in the state in terms of drug-related problems and DUI convictions.
Not surprisingly, Hilltop Recovery does have a waiting list for its two indigent, or free-of-charge, beds and it averages about seven to 10 people long. A requirement to being selected for one of those beds is hopeful candidates have to call in every day to check on the list, showing their initiative and a steadfast desire for help.
For those who run out of money, the center will also allow them to stay free-of-charge to complete their program.
Anytime a fundraiser has been held, proceeds go directly toward funding beds, which makes Runyon highly supportive of Smith”s efforts.
“If there”s anything we can do to get behind something like that, I”d be happy and honored to support it,” Runyon said. “There needs to be more people out there doing things like that.”
“It took someone getting in my life who believed in me to get me clean,” Smith said. “If I can step into someone else”s life, even to help pay a bill so they can just focus on getting straight, then I”m all for it.”
