Wanda Morris has seen what addiction can take from a person and from the people who love him.

Family members have struggled with alcoholism. She also lost a friend she wished could have come to The Wheelhouse. He did not believe he needed help, and she could not save him.

Those experiences are part of what brings Wanda to this work. As Executive Administrator at The Wheelhouse, she gives her time and abilities to help the organization and the men it serves. Through her church Bible study group, she also helps write personal cards filled with faith, hope, and encouragement for residents.

The cards are simple. Their message is not.

They tell a man who may feel ashamed, alone, or forgotten that he still has value. They remind him that his mistakes are not his identity, that God has not abandoned him, and that another person is praying for him as he begins again.

We sat down with Wanda to talk about the loss that shaped her, the moment at The Wheelhouse that stopped her in her tracks, and why churches do not need a large budget to offer meaningful support.

A Personal Reason to Give Back

The Wheelhouse: What motivates you to serve The Wheelhouse?

Wanda: I do not have the financial means to give back in the way some people can, so I give my time. I have had family members who struggled with alcoholism, and that makes this personal for me.

The Wheelhouse: What does The Wheelhouse mean to you personally?

Wanda: I had a friend I wish I could have saved by getting him here. He chose not to come because he did not think he needed it, and I lost him. He died.

Wanda: When I look at the men here, I want them to see their value. I want them to know that God loves them unconditionally. No matter who you are or what you have done, your life can be repaired. We need to show them that.

The Ministry of a Handwritten Card

The Wheelhouse: Your church Bible study group has become involved in encouraging residents. How did that ministry begin?

Wanda: Our Bible study chooses a ministry project every six months, and we chose to support the men at The Wheelhouse by sending encouraging words through postcards and other motivational cards.

Wanda: The women in our group have lived a lot of life. We try to share some of the wisdom and encouragement that come with that. It heals our hearts to see a young man, or even an older man, change his life, find God, and move forward.

The Wheelhouse: What kinds of messages do you write?

Wanda: They are heartfelt. Sometimes someone begins with a short quotation and adds a personal message. Some of the women write deeply from their hearts about how much it means to see somebody succeed.

The cards tell a man that God loves him, that he is important, and that he is not trash.

The Wheelhouse: Many men arrive feeling alone, discouraged, ashamed, and uncertain. What do you want them to know when they receive a card?

Wanda: I want them to know that God loves them and that they are not trash. They are important. God does not make mistakes. We make mistakes, all of us do, and God can heal what is broken.

Wanda: A man comes through that door because he wants a different life. He is trying to move forward and become productive again. He needs people who will remind him that his life still matters.

One Man at a Time

The Wheelhouse: How does your faith shape the way you serve?

Wanda: My faith motivates me to try to reach at least one person. Sometimes I see someone who looks like they are struggling, and I can stop and say, ‘Hey, are you having a bad day? Can I pray for you?’ I may not be able to help everybody at once, but I can be present for one person.

The Wheelhouse: Why does helping one person matter so much?

Wanda: I would love to help many, but we do it one at a time. Some need more one-on-one attention than others. I try to listen to the Holy Spirit and understand how I can meet a need.

Wanda: Part of the way I can help is by supporting the people who serve here every day. No one can do this work alone. We know not every man succeeds the first time, but our prayer is that if he leaves, he will come back and try again.

A Firm Foundation

The Wheelhouse: What Christian message comes to mind when you think about this ministry?

Wanda: Faith, hope, and love. To me, faith is the foundation. Trusting God gives you something firm to stand on and something to build upon. God is my foundation, and I believe The Wheelhouse is built on a firm foundation because its starting point is faith in God, that power that is greater than ourselves some of the men here call God.

Wanda: We hope everyone has someone to love and someone who loves them. We all hope for a better future. But faith is what gives that hope somewhere to stand.

The Wheelhouse: How does that faith influence the support your church offers?

Wanda: It keeps me looking for encouraging words and practical ways to give back. Sometimes that may be cards. Sometimes it may be cookies, sweets, or a simple gift. The women in my group can encourage one another through the act of encouraging these men.

Wanda: Most of the women are widows living on Social Security, so I have to be mindful of their budgets. That is one reason the cards work so well. Meaningful ministry does not always require a lot of money. A caring message can reach somebody’s heart.

The Words That Stopped Her in Her Tracks

The Wheelhouse: Is there a moment with one of the men here that has stayed with you?

Wanda: One day I was walking into the building and I heard a man talking with some of the other men outside. He said, ‘They tell me I’m just a piece of trash.’

Wanda: I stopped in my tracks. It broke my heart. I was almost at the door, but I turned around and asked another man to go back to him and say, ‘Please tell that young man he is not trash in God’s eyes.’

Nobody is trash in God’s eyes. Nobody.

Wanda: Nobody is trash in God’s eyes. Nobody. I have heard families use words like that, and no person needs to carry them. It is hard for a man to believe his life can change if he walks through the door believing he is worthless.

Wanda: Sometimes it takes other people around us to keep telling us the truth until we can begin to believe it ourselves.

What Churches Can Do

The Wheelhouse: What are some simple ways churches can encourage the men at The Wheelhouse?

Wanda: Churches can pay attention to the practical needs. A congregation can collect food, sweets, or other approved items and drop them off. It does not have to be a large effort. Even a small group can gather a few things and bring them.

The Wheelhouse: Do you pray for The Wheelhouse?

Wanda: Absolutely. I pray for the men to succeed, and I pray for The Wheelhouse to remain financially stable. People need to understand the good being done in this house. I am thankful Deer Park has The Wheelhouse in its community.

Wanda: The men are here. Why not help them? Let them find God and build a better life.

What the Men Have Taught Her

The Wheelhouse: Have the men at The Wheelhouse strengthened your own faith?

Wanda: Yes. I hear them praying even when they are tired. They pray before meals, before and after their meetings. Sometimes they pray with each other just one on one. That impresses me.

Wanda: I have also noticed how respectful they are. They open the door for me, speak to me, and make me feel welcome. I have never felt that I did not belong when I walked into The Wheelhouse.

Wanda: I have watched a man from my church go from rock bottom, through The Wheelhouse, to loving God and his family. Now he participates in Celebrate Recovery and brings other men from The Wheelhouse to church. I love seeing that.

The Wheelhouse: What do church members have in common with the men who live here?

Wanda: Our love of God. We all need grace. We all have faults, and we all need a place where we can be honest and begin again.

Can My Life Really Change

The Wheelhouse: What would you say to a man who asks, ‘Can my life really change?’

Wanda: Absolutely, your life can change. You can turn your life around, but you have to take part in it. You have to put in the work.

Wanda: God loves you. He created you. But every one of us has faults we must face. Recovery asks something of you. God gives love, grace, and healing, and The Wheelhouse gives you a place to begin. But you still have to show up and do the work.

Absolutely, your life can change. But you have to take part in it. You have to put in the work.

Encouragement That Restores Dignity

A postcard cannot work the Steps for a man. A plate of cookies cannot make a difficult amends or rebuild a damaged relationship. Prayer does not remove the daily choices recovery requires.

But these gifts can still matter more than their size suggests.

They tell a man that someone sees him. They challenge the lie that he is only the worst thing he has done. They create a small opening through which hope can return.

That is the heart of Wanda’s ministry. She cannot reach every man at once, and she does not pretend that encouragement alone will change a life. She offers what she has: her time, her faith, a prayer, a handwritten message. She trusts that God can use it in the life of the man who needs it that day.

One man at a time.

Take the Next Step

If your church, Bible study, civic group, or business would like to encourage the men of The Wheelhouse, there are many meaningful ways to help. Organize a food or toiletries drive, provide a meal, write ecouraging cards, or purchase needed supplies from our Amazon Wish List.

Would you like to explore an ongoing partnership, volunteer opportunity, or other way to support our mission? Visit our Get Involved page to take the next step.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, visit TheWheelhouse.org or call 281-478-4488. You do not need to have everything figured out before asking for help.

Your support helps provide the environment, recovery tools, fellowship, and spiritual foundation where men can begin rebuilding their lives.

Nobody is trash. No life is disposable.