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Oh What a Night! CORE’s 2026 Live and Silent Auctions

CORE’s annual dinner auction has always been an evening to look forward to, but this year felt dramatically different from the very beginning. From the moment guests began arriving, there was an unmistakable sense that something special was building inside our Branson auditorium. The room filled quickly, and before dinner was even served, the atmosphere was already alive with excitement and anticipation.

By the end of the evening, CORE’s 2026 Live and Silent Auctions had become the single most successful fundraising event in our organization’s history. The entire community came together to support hope, restoration, and second chances for individuals and families affected by addiction. The outpouring of generosity will greatly strengthen CORE’s recovery mission, for which we are sincerely grateful.

This tremendous turnout was made possible in large part through the support of our presenter, Ozarks Dynacom, whose family of radio stations helped spread the word throughout the Tri-Lakes area. We are also grateful to Image Works, Inc. for creating and distributing outstanding promotional materials across print, web, and digital platforms.

The event itself was supported by an incredible network of sponsors, businesses, craftsmen, and community partners who generously donated more than 100 auction items. Their willing spirit says a great deal about the compassion and generosity of the people who call the Ozarks home.

Guests were treated to an outstanding meal prepared by chefs Christos Papanikas and Adam Yorty. Roast pork, chicken, traditional sides, and desserts rounded out a menu that has become a hallmark of CORE gatherings. Throughout the evening, friends, supporters, alumni, and community leaders shared meals and conversations while celebrating the life-changing work made possible through recovery.

Behind the scenes, no one worked harder to bring the evening together than CORE HR Manager Tami McKinney. Months of preparation culminated in a detailed event plan that the Second Milers carefully reviewed beforehand to ensure the evening unfolded without a hitch. Thanks to their hard work and coordination, the entire event proceeded smoothly from beginning to end.

As guests arrived, the silent auction area immediately became a center of activity. Bidding remained lively throughout the evening for gift baskets, resort packages, handcrafted items, and countless other donations contributed by local businesses and artisans. Meanwhile, both the 50/50 raffle and the raffle for the Nighthawk Custom “President” firearm generated tremendous excitement as well.

The energy in the room only intensified once live auctioneers Duane and Kay Gerken took the stage. One item after another sparked spirited bidding contests as attendees enthusiastically competed for everything from homemade pies and cakes to unique specialty items and experiences. Yet perhaps the most memorable moment of the entire live auction came near the very end of the evening with the appearance of a single “Mystery Envelope.”

Nobody knew what was inside.

The bidding began modestly enough before rapidly escalating into a full-scale contest of curiosity, suspense, and determination. By the time the bidding finally stopped, the mysterious envelope had sold for an astonishing $900, proving once again that at a CORE auction, almost anything can happen.

During the evening, CORE CEO Cary McKee addressed the audience and reflected on what the event truly represents. He reminded everyone that while auctions and fundraisers are important, the real purpose behind the evening is helping clients reclaim their lives from addiction and discover lasting recovery.

One of the most anticipated moments of the night came during the drawing for the Nighthawk Custom “President” firearm. Entries had arrived not only from across the country, but from outside the United States as well. Anticipation filled the auditorium as Nighthawk Custom CEO Mark Stone personally stepped forward to draw the winning ticket. The winner of the firearm was Reynolds Henderson of Panama City, Florida.

The generosity shown throughout the evening will directly impact men and women seeking a new way of life and a renewed sense of purpose.

Most importantly, the evening demonstrated something profoundly encouraging: our community believes in recovery. That generosity will help change lives, restore families, and give individuals who once seemed hopeless the opportunity to find a future again.

From all of us at CORE, thank you to every sponsor, donor, volunteer, staff member, and supporter who made this unforgettable evening possible. Your generosity will continue changing lives long after the final auction item has been carried home.

CORE’s Annual Golf Tournament Comes of Age

Just a few years ago, CORE’s annual golf tournament was still finding its footing. Would enough teams sign up? Would sponsors return the following year? Could the event grow into something lasting?

What began after the pandemic as a modest fundraiser with only a handful of teams has now clearly come of age.

This year, all 144 golfer spots were filled nearly two weeks before tournament day, allowing teams to begin play simultaneously on every hole during both the morning and afternoon sessions.

Alongside our longtime supporters and corporate sponsors, this year’s tournament also featured an impressive showing from area law enforcement agencies and first responders, including the Branson Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Taney County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Branson Fire Department.

Seeing so many individuals, businesses, and public servants come together made one thing unmistakably clear: the tournament has become something larger than the game itself.

There was plenty of laughter, competition, and friendly rivalry on the course. But at its heart, the tournament represented a community-wide commitment to helping men and women break free from addiction and rebuild their lives.

The setting could not have been more beautiful. Early morning mist drifted across the fairways as golfers arrived, but by tee time the skies had cleared into a perfect Ozarks spring day. Rolling hills, sparkling water features, immaculate greens, and even a few curious woodland visitors provided a scenic backdrop for the tournament.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Kyler Patterson and the staff at Thousand Hills Golf Resort for once again hosting the event and helping make the day such a success.

We are also deeply grateful to our presenting sponsor, Ozarks Dynacom, whose support and promotion helped expand awareness of the tournament throughout the Tri-Lakes area. Special thanks as well to Image Works, Inc. for their outstanding work promoting the event both online and in print.

Golfers competed in a four person scramble for cash prizes and bragging rights across multiple flights. Contest events included longest drive, longest putt, and closest to the pin. S&H Farm Supply sponsored the tournament’s hole in one challenge on the demanding 15th hole. While nobody claimed the grand prize, one golfer came agonizingly close with a tee shot that stopped barely more than a foot from the cup.

This year’s tournament champions were:

Championship Flight

• James Gerleman Team

• Cooper Creek Team

• Joe Allen Team

A Flight

• Rob Vengarick Team

• John Stickman Team

• Springfield Police Department Team #2

Individual Contest Winners

• Closest to the Pin — Jody Wing

• Longest Drive — Luke Jayne

• Longest Putt — Jody Wing

The fellowship off the course matched the competition on it. Golfers enjoyed refreshments throughout the day, while Embers Cigar Lounge and One.Five Real Estate Advisors provided a cigar cart and raffle in support of CORE’s mission.

CORE CEO Cary McKee and his wife Brittany spent time greeting participants, thanking sponsors, and reconnecting with longtime supporters. CORE’s dependable Second Milers were also on hand throughout the day, helping everything on the course run smoothly from start to finish.

A delicious lunch provided by Chick-fil-A gave golfers an opportunity to relax, connect, and enjoy the spirit of the event together. More than anything else, what stood out throughout the day was the generosity and encouragement shown by everyone involved.

Most importantly, the tournament raised critical support for CORE’s residential recovery programs, helping men and women pursue a new life free from addiction. Several teams also included CORE alumni whose lives stand as powerful reminders of what recovery can accomplish.

To every golfer, sponsor, volunteer, staff member, and supporter who participated: Thank You! Your involvement made this event far more than a day on the golf course. You helped invest in changed lives, restored families, and brighter futures.

Randi Barksdale: Finding Her Way Home

When Randi Barksdale talks about her life, she doesn’t mince words. She speaks first about people and family — the influential figures during her formative years who shaped her personality, her sense of belonging, and her emotional security. She is equally direct about her addiction, freely admitting that she “learned the hard way” her life did not have to remain stuck. Best of all, she speaks with visible joy about the path that led her to recovery and health at CORE.

Randi grew up in an Oklahoma town so small that its population has barely changed in a hundred years. Her roots there run deep. She is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, and some of her earliest memories include her great-grandmother speaking to her and her siblings in their native language. “That was the only language she knew,” Randi recalls.

Family remains central to her story. “My grandma is still alive,” she says. “My greatest joy in getting sober was seeing how happy it made her.” During the darkest years of her addiction, her grandmother once told Randi she could no longer see any light in her eyes. But last Thanksgiving, Randi being surrounded by family and sober at last, her grandmother told her the light had returned.

Randi’s addiction began in her early twenties through a relationship she believed would last forever. Her husband was himself an addict and drug dealer. He first introduced her to opioids, and later to methamphetamine. What began as experimentation escalated quickly. “It’s a dark hole,” she says. “There was no light at the end of the tunnel.” Even her love for her children, she admits, was not enough to pull her out.

After years of chaos, Randi came to Missouri hoping for change. She worked, raised children, and entered treatment more than once. But something essential was missing. “There was education,” she says. “There were assignments. But there was no recovery.” Each time she left treatment, she relapsed almost immediately.

In early 2024, Randi faced her first serious involvement with the justice system. By then, the crossroads felt familiar. She had no money, no clear plan, and nowhere to go. What she did have, for the first time, was honesty and willingness. “I was done,” she says, “and I knew I couldn’t do it on my own.”

Randi arrived at CORE in June 2024 with almost nothing. “I had no money. I’d lost everything I owned,” she says. What she encountered at CORE was something entirely new to her: the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. “As soon as I got it, I started reading. I’d never even heard of it before.” She admits she was mystified at first and leaned heavily on her housemates, bringing them questions about the Steps and how the program actually worked.

Life tested Randi early in recovery. Only weeks after arriving at CORE, she faced family medical emergencies involving a niece, and then one of her own children. In the past, such crises might have sent her headlong into relapse. This time, something was different. Surrounded by the women in her house, she stayed. “Every single woman in that house refused to leave my side,” she says. “That’s when I knew. This is where I belong.”

Randi worked her Steps daily, asking for guidance when she needed it and remaining willing even when it was uncomfortable. Slowly, the sense of stability and connection she believed was lost forever began to return. As that happened, her focus naturally shifted outward. She chaired her first AA meeting and later taught her first 4D recovery class at CORE’s Springfield center. Stepping into leadership surprised her. “I didn’t think I had those qualities,” she says. “They told me I was a leader, but I had to learn to believe it.”

That outward focus also shaped her professional path. Randi became a certified nursing assistant, a role that allowed her to combine care for others with hard-earned compassion. “I wanted to work in the medical field,” she says. “Helping people felt natural.”

Today, Randi serves as a house manager for one of CORE’s women’s residences and as the Women’s Intake Coordinator in Springfield. Often, she is the first voice someone hears when reaching out for help. “I love seeing new faces come in,” she says. “Even the ones who are struggling. I don’t give up on them. They’re still good.”

The work is demanding. Some women resist the very Steps that could change their lives. Randi understands that resistance well. “I’ve been there,” she says. “Sometimes I’m digging through the excuses, trying to find the real person underneath. But I know she’s in there.” She says her greatest satisfaction in working for CORE is helping newcomers achieve their sobriety goals.

Outside of CORE, relationships once broken are healing for Randi.  She’s made amends with her parents and siblings, and she is making heartfelt living amends to her children, several of whom call her every day. Her family closely follows her recovery journey with pride. Her grandmother proudly displays Randi’s CORE commencement plaque on her wall.

Randi gives all credit to God for her recovery. Her faith has deepened, not as an idea, but as something lived out daily. “God moved mountains for me,” she says. “He gave me life back. He made my heart beat again.”

When asked about the future, Randi does not speak about titles or positions. She talks about people. About helping women find their footing. And about CORE. “I will always be a part of CORE,” she says. “CORE saved me. It gave me life. I should have been dead. Instead, I’m here. And now I get to help other women find their way home.”

At CORE, we are so very grateful for Randi — for her courage, her honesty, and her willingness to turn suffering into service. Her story isn’t just about recovery found, but about recovery lived and shared. As she walks alongside newcomers searching for hope, Randi reminds us that the light can return, and when it does, it’s meant to be passed on.

Recovery, Not Maintenance: Why CORE Is Opioid Free

Over the past decade, the treatment of opioid addiction using methadone and buprenorphine has expanded rapidly across America. As overdose deaths surged, particularly with fentanyl saturating illicit drug supplies, policymakers have adopted a clear priority: to keep people alive. In response, treatment strategies increasingly emphasize immediate mortality reduction over longer-term recovery models.

Using opioids to treat individuals addicted to opioids, known as Medication Assisted Treatment, or MAT, has become a multibillion-dollar industry, funded largely by the federal government.

From the perspective of an addict, the appeal of MAT is easy to understand. Prescribed opioids prevent withdrawal, which is terrifying, and eliminate the constant fear of becoming sick. MAT feels safer than street drugs, especially when one bad batch can be fatal. Drug use sanctioned by a physician also carries a sense of legitimacy and allows life to continue without much disruption. For most, the cost of using is covered entirely by government funding.

Not everyone, however, finds this vision satisfying. There are those who want something more than chemical stability. They want to recover.

This group recognizes that drugs have destroyed their lives. They want to be done with substance use entirely. Their desire is freedom without qualification. Freedom from cognitive dulling, emotional flattening, chronic constipation, gut dysfunction, and sexual dysfunction. Freedom from living dose to dose. Freedom from managing, monitoring, or controlling substance use. Their hope is for a life in which opioids are no longer relevant, where there is no compulsion to use and no daily effort to avoid withdrawal. They are not interested in replacing one opioid with another. They want complete liberation.

In southwest Missouri, the treatment landscape is becoming increasingly crowded with MAT providers. Government funding is frequently conditioned on a favorable disposition toward these prescription opioids.

For individuals seeking freedom, there is CORE. CORE offers the evidence-based Twelve Step model recognized by medical authorities as one of the most effective approaches to achieving sustained abstinence, performing as well as or better than other established treatment models.

Because CORE is committed to an evidence-based approach to treatment, we are sometimes asked why our program is still opioid free. Our answer is simple: we are a recovery program. Our work is not limited to harm reduction, which is already well represented by programs that dispense and accommodate opioids. While harm reduction focuses on minimizing damage, recovery goes further. Recovery is about transformation and new life.

There is no freedom in continued drug dependence. Under MAT, a person’s life still revolves around opioids. Decisions are still made about dosing, timing, and access. Legal opioids become the solution to illicit ones. The delivery system may change, but the relationship with drugs does not. The obsession has not been lifted. A chemical is still required to make life tolerable.

Contrast this with CORE, where recovery is real and clients are oriented toward the life they are meant for. Our clients learn to live without any chemical mediation or crutches, making our aim fundamentally different from MAT programs. CORE offers hope grounded in the reality that people do recover, unmedicated, unmanaged, and unafraid. They are no longer chained to drugs.

CORE offers liberation, where clients learn to live happy, joyous, and free without symptom control, risk mitigation, managed dependency, or chemically assisted stability. Recovery means freedom without asterisks. It is peace that does not come from sedation, hope that does not require an opioid prescription, and joy that does not disappear when the supply runs out.

A recovered individual has no need for chemical management. He wakes each morning without a baseline drug requirement. His emotions rise and fall naturally. Joy, grief, excitement, and boredom are all felt as they come. Life is no longer planned around a substance or tethered to a prescriber. There is freedom, and with it, the real world, full of possibility.

CORE is proud to continue its tradition as a recovery program, which remains the only viable approach to attaining an emotionally mature, fully realized life. Knowing freedom ourselves, we cannot in good faith offer a program that revolves around daily opioids. We have experienced the lifting of the obsession, unmediated emotional lives, unqualified peace, and the ability to face each day without substances. Having been blessed with this miracle of recovery ourselves, we will not present anything less to clients looking for real help. Our staff knows all too well the shortcomings of being caged in chemical dependency. We will not romanticize cages in order to obtain government funding.

We recognize that individuals arrive at different points of readiness and with different needs. For some, MAT serves that purpose. We do not seek to prescribe treatment approaches for everyone. CORE exists to provide recovery to those want to live without chemical management, and we are honored to fulfill this role.

Giving Back from the Heart

Helping Bring Christmas Hope to Local Families

One of the most meaningful parts of recovery is learning to live for something greater than oneself. Addiction is a deeply self-centered existence. Recovery turns that old life outward and calls for gratitude, compassion, and service. When we interviewed CORE CEO Cary McKee for this article, he rightly noted, “The addict and alcoholic leads a selfish life in their addiction, but in recovery we finally find ourselves in a position where we’re led to give back. Our organization takes great satisfaction and joy in being able to do this.”

For the past five years, CORE has been uniquely positioned to turn the spirit of service in recovery into action, especially at Christmas. Thanks to partnerships with generous area retailers, CORE collects a steady stream of donated merchandise throughout the year: clothing, shoes, toys, sporting goods, tools, bedding, and countless useful household items. None of it is kept by CORE, our staff, or our clients. Cary said, “We’re just the conduit. Everything we collect over the course of the year goes to the community. We’ve got a heart for helping others, because that’s what real recovery is all about.”

The scale of this effort is significant. Each week, CORE’s operations team picks up donations and transports them to one of our storage facilities, where they are sorted, organized, and prepared for distribution during the holidays. Operations Manager Gary Osborn, who has coordinated this effort since its beginning, describes the undertaking as deeply personal. “Growing up, I can remember my family getting assistance from the schools. So, through our partnerships with retailers, collecting donations all year and then seeing it come to fruition for families in need, I’m helping to give back the help given to me in my younger years. I enjoy doing it, as does my crew. We get to play the role of Santa Claus.”

Once donations arrived at CORE, they were placed under the care of Branson Facilities Manager Tamara Spencer, who led teams of volunteers in sorting, inspecting, and preparing each item. “We took everything over to a storage facility,” she explained to us. “We sort it into toys, boys’ clothes, girls’ clothes, women’s clothes, men’s clothes, yard tools, household items — everything you might find at a big box store. Then, at the end of November, we loaded it into trucks and took it to people in need.” Tamara has helped coordinate the effort for four years now. For her, the joy comes from serving quietly and knowing families are being cared for. “We don’t always get to see the outcome,” she said, “but I can imagine what it must feel like for these families, and the fact that we’re able to be part of it is the hugest blessing there ever is.”

This year, CORE partnered with two community organizations: Lodge Ministries in Taneyville and the Hollister School District.

Lodge Ministries held its annual Christmas Joy celebration at the Taneyville School District. It was a community-wide outreach event that transformed the school building into what organizer Stephen Corcoran called “a Winter Wonderland Spectacular.” Thousands of lights, snow globes, decorations, and themed rooms created an unforgettable atmosphere for children and families.

Between six and seven hundred children were served at the event. “Families came in, were served a hot meal, and visited different rooms where they could choose clothing, coats, hats, toys — and at the end, we had a family room so the adults could pick something, too. Everything was free. It let them know they’re special,” said Corcoran.

Lodge Ministries volunteers worked overnight to build this amazing event. It was another reminder that generosity, when multiplied, becomes something extraordinary. In fact, the ministry received such an abundance of merchandise this year that it was able to share clothing items received from CORE with the school districts in Forsyth, Kirbyville, and Taneyville to use as they see fit.

At Hollister, the school district hosted the Holiday Blessing Room, which served 126 families and 256 students directly through the district, with even more families referred through outside agencies. In all, one out of every five children in the district received Christmas assistance.

District Social Worker Melissa Gehman and returning counselor Sandy Brown coordinated the effort, drawing volunteers from the National Honor Society, Civil Air Patrol, Tiger Academy, and Girl Scouts. Together, they helped transform the district’s Tiger Activities Center into a welcoming space where parents could choose, at no cost, what their children needed most. As Sandy said, “Helping people is what it’s all about.”

Hollister Superintendent Dr. Sean Woods described the event as a reflection of what it means to be a true community. “The purpose of this room is to support our students and our families. It’s really about a community wrapping its arms around itself,” he said. “With CORE as a phenomenal partner, and volunteers from across Hollister, everything goes back to the kids, and when we know we can help, I think we have an obligation to help.”

At CORE, we know we have been blessed beyond measure. Giving back is one of the greatest expressions of gratitude we know. Our role is simple: to gather what we’ve been entrusted with, steward it responsibly, and give it away freely. This work is more than service. It’s recovery in action.

As Cary said, “These Christmas events are just one way we’re able to help. If we can give families even a glimmer of hope, that may be the hope they need to find change or move toward a brighter future. We’re all about that, and we look forward to stretching this opportunity into even more communities in the years ahead.”

New Hollister Landmark Mural Completed at CORE Facility

In December, city leaders, CORE representatives, members of the Hollister Chamber of Commerce, and community guests gathered in the Downing Street district for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating Hollister’s newest landmark: a panoramic visual tribute to the city’s heritage and America’s 250-year anniversary. Painted across the south and west walls of The CORE Store’s furniture warehouse, the mural reflects both Hollister’s past and its ongoing story as a growing and vibrant community in the Tri-Lakes area.

The mural spans 2,000 square feet and incorporates symbolic elements that define Hollister’s identity. Created by artist Raine Clotfelter, “America’s Muralist,” the work prominently features a train recalling the White River Railway — without which there would be no Hollister. Grapes represent the city’s agricultural heritage, while the depiction of Turkey Creek serves as a reminder that Hollister was the first tourist destination in the greater Branson area. At the southwest corner, a dramatic American flag and bald eagle honor the nation’s upcoming 250-year anniversary.

The artwork already is drawing visitors to Downing Street, with many stopping to take photos in front of it and share their experience with others.

Raine also added a Scripture passage that he felt captured the spirit of the mural: II Corinthians 3:17 — “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” CORE CEO Cary McKee shared his appreciation for its inclusion, noting that it encompasses the mural’s patriotic and civic themes as well as the freedom inherent in faith and recovery.

Discussions about placing a mural on CORE’s building began several years ago through conversations between city leaders and Cary. Assistant City Administrator Denise Olmstead reflected on the timing of the project: “All the pieces presented themselves at the right time. We had the location, the partnership, and a muralist whose work truly tells the story of our community.”

Cary expressed CORE’s gratitude for the opportunity to host the artwork. “CORE is honored to have this mural on our building, and we’re committed to caring for it,” he said. “It allows us to show our support for Hollister, and for our country, while also bringing awareness to our mission.”

Olmstead added that the project was designed to be something everyone involved could take pride in: “We wanted artwork that represents the community, honors our history, and is something CORE is proud to have on their building, not just for today, but for years to come.”

City Administrator Lamar Patton shared that the collaboration reflects the strong working relationship between the City and CORE. “We’ve seen firsthand the results you all produce,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of friends who came through the program. There’s no doubt to me how good that program is.”

At CORE, we also see this work of art as an important symbol of community partnership. As Cary said, “It came together amazingly. We’re grateful to the City of Hollister and proud to have this mural on our building — celebrating our hometown, our country, and the story of this community we’re blessed to be part of.”

Cody Winingear: From Collapse to Calling

For our Christmas newsletter, we’re excited to share a wonderfully encouraging recovery story. Meet Cody Winingear!

Cody recently joined CORE as our men’s intake coordinator at the Branson Recovery Center. His wife, Karli, who has performed in Branson shows for years, also sings with the praise and worship team at CORE Church. Together with their adorable furbabies, they have called Branson home since they married three years ago. We’re thrilled to have Cody on our team!

Because Cody is new and working hard to make a good impression, he seemed a little cautious when asked to share his story for this holiday edition. We got the sense he preferred to be seen as a man of serious mind who is dedicated to helping newcomers. We reassured him we would take good care of him. So, here goes.

To be candid, Cody’s addiction was anything but merry. Alcohol had always been at the center. “Alcohol was the constant,” he says, “but there were always drugs involved at various stages.”

When they first met, Karli knew nothing about addiction or how difficult life could become if Cody used again. When he eventually fell off the wagon, “it was a big surprise for her.”

Inside, Cody had been unraveling long before anyone noticed. He was “not working steps… a sitting duck,” and he stayed busy with work and video games to outrun the restlessness, irritability, and discontent he did not want to face. “If I stayed busy, I didn’t have to pay attention to life.” He filled his days with money, vacations, and gadgets, but each distraction failed just as quickly as it arrived. 

Eventually the obsession returned in full force, and he relapsed. His addiction escalated quickly, and his world shrank to “just me and my job of avoiding people.” At home, secrecy and manipulation took over. “I was always intoxicated. By the three-month point it was constant.” He hid bottles, drank before getting home, and even provoked arguments to keep Karli away from his behavior. Eventually, she moved out. “It’s not what she bargained for,” Cody says.

His body and mind finally gave out, and he landed in the hospital. Damage had been done at home, at work, and within his family, yet he still could not see the depth of his problem. He had been to treatment centers and recovery housing before and believed another “twenty-eight day program” would fix everything. Happily, something larger had other plans for him.

What happened next can only be described as a divine setup.

A friend urged him to come to CORE’s one-year recovery program, which Cody remembers as “the last place I wanted to come to.” He checked into a rehab, but his insurance would not cover the stay. A caseworker then asked, “Have you ever thought about going to CORE?” In August 2024, Cody finally arrived to CORE, broken, exhausted, and out of solutions. Still, fate was not finished with him, not just yet.

“My first thirty days here, I was planning my exit,” he says. He wanted to go home, his thought still being that he could fix everything on the outside without changing anything on the inside. On day thirty, bags packed, he arrived at the recovery center ready to check out. A conversation with our program manager, Dallas Conaway, gave him a much needed reality check. Dallas reminded him of the consequences of leaving without working a real program. At Dallas’s suggestion, Cody wrote a list of reasons he wanted to leave. The first was “be with my wife and try to fix things.” He prayed over the list alone and with a sponsor.

Then a CORE client walked in with Chinese takeout and tossed him a fortune cookie. It read, “A distant relationship is beginning to look more promising.” The message spoke directly to Cody’s greatest fear.

That night, visiting pastor and friend of CORE, Jay Scribner, preached on finishing the race you have started and the importance of committing to one full year of true recovery. As Cody listened, everything went still. “There was a presence there,” he says, “I wasn’t supposed to go.”

After the church service, Cody told Karli he was staying at CORE. She responded with relief and her support, saying “Whatever we have to do, we will make it work.” In retrospect, that moment became the turning point of Cody’s life.

Once Cody surrendered, he threw himself into the work. “My step work, I took it seriously,” he says. He studied the Big Book, listened to speakers, and sought out the men “you could tell by their walk” had recovered. With guidance from graduates of CORE’s program, he worked the Steps thoroughly.

Resentments lifted. Shame fell away. “I could move again and breathe freely. I had mental clarity. And a sense of peace,” Cody recalls, citing a “miraculous change” happening within himself.  In fact, Cody had recovered and was freed from the obsession that had dogged him most of his life. The man who once panicked in restaurants with bars could now walk through stores that sold alcohol and feel nothing. Not fear, not craving, not pull. Only freedom.

As part of his progress, he also set about repairing his relationships with Karli, with his employer, and with his family, and he succeeded.

He also began teaching 4D recovery classes at CORE.  With this experience came a significant change in his perspective. “I was always in the mindset of I have thirty days to fix my life, or six months,” he says.  Now he knows better. “That isn’t possible, not even a year. It takes time. I’m still in this wonderful process of the transformation.”

Spiritually, Cody says everything still feels new, but in the best way. His early prayers were “fox hole prayers,” but over time he sensed a dramatic shift. “God is everything to me,” he says matter of factly. He now sees God at work in every part of his life. Scripture, worship, and prayer have become central. “Only He can fill it. He’s everything to me.”

Today, Cody’s vision for the future is full of hope. In five years, he sees a happy, healthy family where he and Karli continue to put God first in their marriage. He imagines a home where Karli can garden, where the pups can run, and where a child can grow up safe and loved.

Professionally, he sees himself “somewhere within CORE,” still working alongside Dallas. “I get a lot of joy seeing it work for others. There really is something special about living the selfless life.” He also loves being on staff, remarking “I’ve never had a job where all my coworkers were like me. That’s really awesome.”

For Cody, what began as reluctance has now become purpose. What began as survival has transformed into a calling. What began as collapse has grown into a life rebuilt, marked by willingness, honesty, spirituality, and service.

We at CORE are deeply grateful to have Cody on our staff. It’s been a joy to watch him recover and grow into a mentor who now guides others through the same journey. We’re committed to supporting his success every step of the way.

And because he’s definitely one of us, we think he will appreciate a little holiday cheer to show that recovery comes with joy, laughter, and a spirit made new.

Here’s what Cody looks like as Santa Claus!

A Christmas Message from CORE

Throughout history, there have been countless singular events. Yet none compare to the moment that unfolded one quiet night in the little town of Bethlehem. For in that moment, God became human and lived among us, and everything changed. The Lord Jesus became our horn of salvation, enabling us to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

Our Lord also taught us what it means to live abundantly. He gave humanity two commands that were simple in word yet revolutionary in practice: to love God and to love our neighbors. We often imagine these commandments exist for the benefit of others, as though God or our neighbors especially need our love. In truth, they were given for us. When we love faithfully, we align our lives with the divine pattern woven into creation itself. In doing so, we discover the secret of lasting happiness.

And so, during this Christmas season, if the news is filled with conflict or calamity, or if work or financial pressures weigh upon our peace, let us remember the spirit of Christmas and the wisdom our Lord came to share. The distractions of life may be many, but the truth remains unchanged. Our deepest joy is found not in what we gain, but in service and in how we love one another.

Christmas reminds us that love is not only felt but lived. It is shown in kindness, patience, service, and generosity toward one another. Nothing captures the heart of this truth more clearly than the Lord’s own words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

At CORE, we are continually blessed to witness Christ’s spirit of love in action.

To our supporters: your generosity restores hope and transforms lives. You make it possible for men and women to escape addiction and rebuild their futures. Your gifts are more than financial support. They are acts of compassion that ripple outward in ways both seen and unseen.

To our volunteers: your service reflects the heart of Christmas. You give your time, your energy, and your encouragement to people who desperately need the warmth of human kindness. Your quiet and faithful willingness to serve is a light that guides others toward healing.

To those still struggling with addiction: take heart. Love has not forgotten you. There is a solution, and there is a path forward. At CORE, you will find people who understand your struggle because we have lived it. We stand ready to walk with you toward freedom, hope, and a new beginning.

From all of us at CORE, may this Christmas fill your hearts with peace, joy, and the enduring love of Christ.

Merry Christmas, and God bless you!

Shrimp, Crawfish, and Gratitude

Each fall, CORE hosts one of its favorite traditions: the Annual Shrimp & Crawfish Boil. This isn’t a fundraiser or an appeal. It’s a no-ask evening set aside purely to say thank you and celebrate the generous people whose faith and giving make everything we do possible.

On October 16, our donors and patrons joined staff, Second Milers, and alumni for an absolutely shrimp-tastic meal. The tables were alive with laughter, conversation, and the unmistakable aroma of shrimp, crawfish, and good Southern cooking. It was the perfect opportunity for our supporters to meet one another, visit with our recovery community, and see firsthand what their generosity is building here.

Much credit for this year’s success goes to CORE’s own Tami McKinney. A month before the event, she retreated to her strategic underground HR office to begin planning. After many hours immersed in details, she finally emerged from her bunker with a master plan that guaranteed the most cray-mazing Cajun boil this side of the Mississippi.

On the big day, a team of CORE people brought her plan to life, transforming our auditorium into the most bayou-friendly place in Branson. Second Milers, volunteers, and alumni hung banners, set up tables, and helped our talented chefs prepare the feast. Bracy Sams oversaw the shrimp and crawfish boil, while Christos Papanikas and Adam Yorty handled a delicious stuffed pork loin. Abby Boone made sure the dessert table stayed flawless all night.

The night had all the makings of a great party, but the heart of it was in our supporters. They are, quite simply, the best. They recognize that addiction is not a choice but often the result of pain and confusion that once felt impossible to escape. They also know that with the right help and support, CORE’s clients can rebuild their lives, rediscover purpose, and become the best versions of themselves. Our supporters take genuine joy in helping clients do exactly that.

It is no exaggeration to say that our donors help make miracles happen here every day. They stand behind every person restored to health, every parent reunited with a child, and every individual who finds faith in God. Their generosity turns hope into reality.

We also want to recognize our amazing event sponsors, whose generosity helped make the Annual Shrimp & Crawfish Boil such a success: Dr. John and Mrs. Tina Stickman; Jan and DeYon Blase; Jim Ed and Callie Summers; Alltrista; MissouriAmish.com; Mr. Ed’s Old Downtown Texaco; and Table Rock Community Bank. With their help, CORE served up both shell-icious food and great fellowship in true Cajun style.

As the tables filled and plates were passed, CEO Cary McKee took the stage to remind everyone what the night was truly about: gratitude, pure and simple. It was about the wonderful people who make CORE’s mission possible, not through obligation, but through love.

To everyone who attended the Boil, and to every donor, volunteer, alumnus, and client who stands behind this ministry, we say Thank You! Your generosity keeps the flame of hope burning bright. You make recovery possible. You make CORE what it is.

Giving Thanks, CORE-Style

Every November, Americans gather to give thanks. We share food, laughter, and a little too much togetherness. Someone always brings the green-bean casserole, another insists on talking politics, and at least one person volunteers you for dish duty before dessert. But when all is said and done, Thanksgiving still reminds us of what matters most: family, friendship, faith, and God’s grace that allows us to begin again. For these, we are deeply thankful. And may all of us be ever mindful that gratitude turns whatever we have into enough.

At CORE, gratitude runs deep. We remember what it was like to wake up without hope, and we know how precious it is to wake up with purpose. Every day free from obsession, every meal shared in peace, and every quiet moment of contentment, is something to be thankful for.

For this month, we asked members of our recovery community to share what they’re thankful for. As always, their words say it best:

For my recovery and for the life I have today serving God. For my CORE family — this place saved my life. For my family, who I’ve been reunited with. I live an awesome life and serve an awesome Lord! 
— Robin T

Being a giver to the lives around me instead of only a taker. That means the most to me, especially when I’m with my family, knowing I can bring something good to the table instead of being a hassle or a headache and doing something stupid.  I’m truly thankful to God for my recovery. Before coming to CORE, I was sleeping in the back seat of my ’03 Taurus. Now I get to help others, and there are even people who look up to me.
— Dylan B

My relationship with my family and my son. Three years ago, I didn’t have that. Now I’m welcome. I’m thankful for my career, for being financially stable, and for saving enough to buy a house. And CORE — oh yes, they saved my life. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.
— Megan W

Being sober and living a new life — two and a half years and counting. 
— Matt N

I’m thankful to CORE for the fellowship, community, and spiritual foundation it offers. And I’m really grateful to God for giving me both the opportunity and the understanding to share the message of recovery with others. 
— Tamara S

My sobriety and for the wonderful blessing of having my children in my life. My family is healthy, and that alone is a gift. I’m grateful for CORE, where I’m surrounded by people who’ve walked the same road, keep me accountable, and let me give back by helping others.
— Mike B

My relationship with God. He’s restored relationships I thought were beyond repair. I’m grateful for His Word, and for the chance to apply the principles of the Bible and the Big Book to my life every day. I’m also thankful for my job and for the people I work with, and for the second chances, and multiple chances, God has given me. 
— Heather S

For God’s amazing grace, His unconditional love, and everything He’s doing in my life today. In a nutshell, that’s everything. 
— Justin L

I’m thankful for this program and for everyone who helps make recovery possible. I’m thankful for my ex and for my daughter, who’s in college and not following in my old footsteps. I’m grateful to my Higher Power, whom I know as Jesus Christ. And I’m thankful for my parents in California — I plan to see them soon and reintroduce them to their son, who has regained his faith. 
— Joe R

Having the rebuilt relationships with my family and earning their trust again. I’m close with them now, and that means so much to me. I’m thankful for my recovery and for my relationship with God. Most of all, I’m grateful for my independence and being able to trust my own thinking and handle problems differently than I used to. 
— Kristie K

My sobriety, my family, and my health. I’m thankful for CORE and for the sponsors who keep this place running. And most of all, I’m thankful to God, who is the reason for all of it. 
— Jeremy H

I’ve been clean for four years, and it’s brought my family back together. I get emotional because that means so much to me. And CORE — I couldn’t have done it without their help. They showed me how it works. 
— Brian F

I’m thankful for my relationship with my family and for being someone they can count on. I’m grateful for my job and for all my family here at CORE. 
— Abby B

I’m grateful for my second chance at life. I’m grateful to have my family back. I’m just grateful to be alive. 
— Spenser R

To have God in my life and a great team of guys around me who support me. It’s inspiring to watch them experience the same blessings I’ve received through this program, and to see them grow and mature as they continue their walk. 
— Eric S

My restored relationship with my children and my family, and for having my mom here with me. I’m thankful for my recovery, even though I’m out of the program now, and for the family I still have here at CORE. 
— Katie R

Giving back to the people who have helped me so much. It’s a warm feeling to know I’m doing work that makes me happy and helps others too. It’s truly a gift from God. 
— Adam Y

I’m grateful for this program. It saved my life back in 2015 and gave me a sobriety that I can’t even compare to the rest of my life. I’m thankful for the leadership here, but just as much for the new people who come in every day.  They keep me going and strengthen my own recovery. I have a great relationship with my children today, too.  We’ve returned to the closeness we had before I was absent from their lives. I can’t even begin to express the gratitude I feel today. 
— Patrick G

Spending time with my family sober and giving back to the community. I fall more in love with the Lord every day. 
— Toni W

I’m grateful for my recovery, for my salvation, and for the family I’ve found here at CORE. 
— Daniel B

The people I work with and for the fellowship we share. I’m thankful for Jesus — that God gave His only Son for us. And most definitely, I’m thankful for my recovery. I’d probably be in jail or underground without it. 
— Neil F

CORE, for teaching me how to lead and for helping me rebuild the parts of my life I once thought were lost forever. Through CORE, I’ve learned leadership, patience, and guidance. 
— Randi B

The opportunity to help others. I’ve always wanted to have a purpose and be useful.  Now I’ve been given that chance. Whether it’s with my family, because I wasn’t much help as a husband or a father, or with friends, coworkers, or anyone I meet, I finally get to give back. Having the opportunity to help people means everything to me. 
— Dallas C