COTS held an update to thank donors for their contributions to our Campus of Change campaign that began last year and is putting in place the final updates and repairs. The extent of the makeover is incalculable. Almost every room got a new coat of paint, the… Read More
Future paralegal gets her life on track “I was kind of stuck,” Beth explains of her reasons for coming to COTS. Beth spent the last 12 years of her life caring for her parents while working. When her father became sick two years ago, her… Read More
Young adult resident gets his life back on track “I was kind of spinning my wheels,” Ryan says of his life before COTS. The now 23-year-old had, “a very sheltered childhood.” Once he went to college, however, he started experimenting with drugs and alcohol. “I… Read More
A COTS Resident Testimonial Storm Damage Necessitates Change Simon was living in Grand Chute when a terrible storm came rolling through. The home that he was renting, as well as both of his vehicles, suffered severe damage from a tree that was uprooted during the storm.… Read More
“I always get more than I give in these [volunteer] situations,” states Mary Lou McCord, an enthusiastic volunteer at COTS. Mary Lou spent a good portion of her adult life working as a social worker for the Department of Corrections. Before bringing her vast wealth of… Read More
Sarah O’Hearn first learned about COTS’ Meal Ministry program when she was looking for Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities for her and her husband. She found the opportunity on our website and knew she had found her calling. “I love it!” she exclaims. “For me, it’s perfect… Read More
Jeremy moved into COTS because, “I was homeless in that I would have wound up on the street.” Jeremy had been in and out of the hospital three times due to his excessive drinking. The third time, he decided to go into treatment at The… Read More
“I was struggling to figure out who I really was,” explains Jake. In his early 20’s, Jake began examining his identity. His family did not support his ultimate decision, and they kicked him out of the house when he was 20. He was able to… Read More
Written by John Polakowski As COTS’ Aftercare Coordinator, my activities and duties vary from one day to the next and tend to keep me very busy. Thus a typical day includes interaction with current and former residents. I do enjoy making contact and keeping in… Read More
A former resident learns to socialize and stay sober “Drinking is the root of all of my evil. It destroys my functionality,” says Jay. Jay came to COTS after going through six months of treatment at The Mooring House. He had spent most of his… Read More