The story of Mending Hearts is one of determination and redemption. Our founder, Trina Frierson, struggled with addiction for several years. After experiencing life on the streets, periods of homelessness, incarceration, and losing the custody of her children, she was determined to reclaim her life from addiction. She struggled to find resources to help her in her recovery. Eventually, she received the support she needed to establish and maintain her sobriety. In an effort to pay it forward, Trina felt led to serve women in similar situations. She saw the need for a long-term program that addressed addiction but also offered life-changing support, therapy, and job skills that are crucial to lifelong recovery. Trina founded Mending Hearts as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2004. Since then, Mending Hearts has provided care for 7,500 women.
Mending Hearts has added programs and services to provide a full continuum of care to help women recover from their addiction and to address co-occurring mental and trauma issues. While most residential rehabilitation centers offer programs that are only thirty days, Mending Hearts is unique in that the average stay for women is three to six months. This provides the time and support necessary to address underlying trauma and triggers to help prevent relapse.
Starting with one house that provided a safe place for eight women to take the first steps to reclaiming their lives from addiction, Mending Hearts has grown to two campuses. Our West Campus is now thirteen buildings, with housing for 110 women at a time and spaces for treatment, therapy, and case management. On our East Campus, there is space for an additional sixty women at a time, where women begin their journey to recovery from addiction in medically-monitored detox and residential treatment. With these campuses, Mending Hearts will provide treatment programs and services for 1,500 annually.
Our Mission
Mending Hearts helps women restore their lives from addiction through a long-term treatment program that offers hope and healing in a supportive community environment – regardless of their ability to pay.
Our Timeline
Coming Soon
Testimonials
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I had hit the bottom of a dark, cold, lonely pit.
“I had hit the bottom of a dark, cold, lonely pit. I had lived 17-years of complete self-destruction. I did not care who I took down with me along the way. My whole life I never felt like I fit in anywhere. My goal was to escape the world I existed in. I would have sold my soul for my next fix.
Sometimes I wonder if that’s what I had done. I never knew there was another way to live until I came to Mending Hearts. I was court ordered to complete the program as the beginning of my nine-year sentence; the remainder on probation. Since being [at Mending Hearts] I have experienced things I never thought possible. I have made legal money. I have developed relationships with people that have proven to me they have no motive other than to truly be my friend. I have developed some self-esteem and I am learning that I am someone. I have a relationship with my children today. I have learned to accept who I am and what I have done throughout my life. I have a relationship with God today. He has a purpose for me. I can use my experience, strength and hope to help other women in any way possible.”
Crystal
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“My heart is so full. This has been the best decision I’ve made in a very long time. I’m not sure if you remember just how it felt to have your life saved by complete strangers who cared more about me than I cared about myself, just to have these perfect strangers become your family who really love you. This is just a thank you! For giving me my life back. For rebuilding my relationship with my mom who is proud to call me her daughter. For making me believe I am worth it and of a beautiful life. Thank you for showing me grace, kindness, and patience. You guys helped change me. And put me right where I should be. Thank you 1,000 times over. I feel like I could never repay y’all. Besides staying sober for the rest of my life. Sounds good to me. I love every sing one of y’all. AGAIN! I love y’all + THANK YOU!”
Samantha
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I had hit the bottom of a dark, cold, lonely pit.
“Coming to Mending Hearts has helped me gain self-love and self-respect.
Mending Hearts has changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined.”Brittany
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“I had been living in my addiction for 30 years before I came to Mending Hearts. I am now 40 years old. I grew up with my mom who was on drugs and she let me do drugs with her at age 9. By the time I was 14, I was addicted and always looking for my next high. I was involved with prostitution, drug possession, and did some jail time.
During these years, I had 2 children and lost my son to a gunshot to his head. I tried to get clean and just could never do it! Time went by and I eventually detoxed and came to Mending Hearts…and this place changed me! I began to feel like life was worth living again.Mending Hearts has taught me to love again, to trust myself and others, to think more positively…every day I am learning something new. I have a FT job that I like and I have moved out into my own place to begin living independently. My dream is to finish raising my 15-year-old daughter, to receive my GED and to eventually own my own home one day.”
Aleshia
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“Coming here was the best thing that can happen to me. Being here helped me and my son a lot that I can’t even describe with words. I have learned so many things that could get me ready and go back to face the world. With strength, honor, and dignity, I can never thank them enough.”
Ndeye
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I had hit the bottom of a dark, cold, lonely pit.
“I came to Mending Hearts in July of 2023 after being homeless, addicted, and in and out of jail. I chose Mending Hearts because it was far away from my comfort zone and there is not another program like this one. The women here loved me until I could love myself and showed me that recovery is possible! My goal is to be reunited with my children and my family someday, but above all, to be sober when that day comes!”
April
