“It was fair to say that in October, we weren’t sure we could stay open past the end of 2020,” said Carmen Clavin, program coordinator. “But God has provided.”

Gateway lost its long-time $20,000 matching grant donor, but gained another $10,000 matching grant.

Steve and Carol Pederson, Fort Dodge donors to the program since its inception in 2013, felt called to donate even more this year by providing the matching grant.

“I feel really strongly about the work they’re doing and the success they’re having,” Steve Pederson told The Messenger in December. “My wife and I dug deep.”

-Submitted photo
Shay Fairbanks, Daniel Schumann and Karen Thode make chocolate for Gateway to Discovery's annual chocolate fundraiser. In the absence of fundraising opportunities at churches in 2020, a significant source of funding for the nonprofit, the program for women recovering from addiction managed to make it through the year with record fundraising opportunities and new grants.

After a family intervention in 1989, the business owner found an “immensely better” life that made it possible for him to provide the matching gift.

Since finding sobriety, Steve Pederson said his primary purpose in life is to stay sober and help others get sober, too. After years in the beer distribution business, the small business owner switched to bottled water distribution in 1999, as beer wholesalers started consolidating more.

He has confidence in the faith-based approach to sobriety that Gateway to Discovery provides, similar to how he achieved sobriety — by acknowledging a higher power — saying the approach is the best foundation to recovery.

“My recovery is based on growing, understanding and acceptance of that higher power and its grace and gentleness,” Steve Pederson said.

That’s an approach not often achieved through one- to three-month recovery programs that are often eligible for wider public funding and grant opportunities, he said.

This year, five women have graduated from the program: Sara Godinez, Mary Wild and Lillie Weir in July; Tammi Anderson and Stephanie Morgan in October. Residents, including five new ones, continue in all four phases of the program, which rebuilds women’s lives through a structured, faith-based approach.

The nonprofit’s annual fundraiser, “It’s a Chocolate Thing,” broke records with $23,000 raised thanks to the hard work of Clavin, Hope Sweet Hope Studios Coordinator Josi Pahl, residents and volunteers — even with tempered expectations given the virtual and drive-thru nature of the fundraiser during the pandemic.

And even as the organization’s opportunities to receive donations through church presentations — a major source of financial support — dwindled with church closures in 2020, the Gateway house managed to pay off its mortgage thanks to a $6,000 gift.

“Because of the necessary restrictions, our fundraising efforts were hampered with sales of Hope Sweet Hope Studios’ products at events such as Market on Central and various community art booths,” Clavin said. “Sales were also hampered by necessary closure of the Hope Sweet Hope Studios to the public.”

But their mission, offering women a sanctuary for recovery with community, prevailed.

“(Our success says) that we’re alive and strong,” Clavin said. “We want to continue to grow. We’re showing this is successful, that women want this.”

And while going to residential treatment programs offered for three weeks is a great start, she said many women need longer term care and help in recovery. As Gateway to Discovery heads into 2021, they aspire to open more houses for recovering addicts.

During the pandemic, their program proved its strength in keeping women on track to recovery by being able to rely on the community of “lifelong sisters” built through Gateway. In addition to relearning life skills and how to build relationships, the women in the program receive a humble stipend upon graduation to give them a jumpstart as they move into more independent living.