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Home Our Founder Our Mission Our People Our Businesses Help Sunny Acres Contact Us The People of Sunny Acres Jess M. I’m from Santa Maria.  Growing up, I participated in my family’s vegetable retail business, and as a young man I was productive, energetic and successful.  That was until 1989, when I began using meth.  That was it – my life began to spiral.  Out of control.  Divorce, homelessness, all the usual things associated with addiction.  I did not know how to quit.  I was scared to quit.  So I just kept using. In 2002 I was staying with a friend in San Luis Obispo while doing my best to work as a forklift operator in Santa Maria.  I was arrested, for the first time in my life, for various drug offenses including possession and distribution.  I spent 70 days in jail. While in jail, I was introduced to Narcotics Anonymous.  This was my first step towards overcoming the hell that addiction had caused me.  I was also introduced to the power of prayer, which can overcome anything. My prayers were answered, and I was released on probation.    At the time of my release, a friend of mine told me that they had heard of Sunny Acres.  Since I had nowhere to go, I joined the Sunny Acres community.  This was a crucial continuation of my rehabilitation.  I regularly attended NA meetings, and began active participation in Sunny Acres. At Sunny Acres, I found camaraderie, understanding and support.  The community became my family.  When I came here, I had very low self-esteem and confidence.  But here at Sunny Acres I was given challenges and opportunities.  I was able to build on my knowledge of plumbing, and learned about construction, including framing and basic wiring.    As I have continued to develop, I have taken an active role in the running of Sunny Acres.  I have been able to using my retailing skills to develop some of Sunny Acres’ businesses, and I now keep our records and assist in the promotion and development of the Sunny Acres community. At Sunny Acres, I bring a sense of humor, a positive attitude, and a sense of pride and ownership.  In the long term, I want to continue in the field of rehabilitation.  I want to see Sunny Acres grow and blossom into a large and highly recognized facility.  Ultimately I would like to bring these skills to other rehab centers.