The Heart of Wolfe Street
- Wolfe Street Foundation
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 30
The First Face of Hope
Every day, hundreds of people walk through the doors of Wolfe Street. Some arrive looking for a meeting. Others are searching for support. Many aren't sure what comes next.
The first person they meet is often Lisa Darnall.
Three years ago, Lisa walked through those same doors herself.
After a 30-year battle with substance use disorder that eventually left her unhoused and hospitalized, she entered recovery with little certainty about what the future would hold. What she found at Wolfe Street was more than a program. Through Peer Support and the Recovery Residence Program, she found something she hadn't experienced in years: hope, accountability, and a community that understood her.
"I had a great support team," Lisa says. "They took me under their arms and held me accountable, which is what I needed. They always checked on us and made sure we were okay. I felt like I had finally found a place where they understood me."
That sense of belonging changed everything.
Today,
Lisa serves as Wolfe Street's Volunteer Coordinator and manages the bookstore, but her role extends far beyond either title. For many people walking through the front doors, she's the first smile, the first conversation, and the first reminder that recovery is possible.
The bookstore has become one of her favorite places inside Wolfe Street. More than a place to browse recovery resources, it's a gathering place where conversations begin, friendships are formed, and community continues to grow.
Drawing from her own lived experience, Lisa now helps connect volunteers with meaningful opportunities while encouraging others as they navigate their own recovery journeys. She understands what it feels like to wonder if change is possible, and she strives to make sure every person who walks through Wolfe Street's doors knows they don't have to face that journey alone.
"I see at least 300 faces every day that come through the door."
"I'm the first one they see. Wherever they are in their recovery journey, I can meet them there. Because I get it."
That understanding is what makes Lisa such an important part of Wolfe Street.
Before someone attends their first meeting, meets with a Peer Support Specialist, or takes the next step in recovery, they often meet someone who has already walked that path.
Sometimes, hope begins with a simple welcome.
Want to learn more about Peer Support or upcoming community events at Wolfe Street?
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