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Freedom in Truth recovery program staging open house
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Addiction – whether it is gambling, drugs, porn, or alcohol – can destroy lives.

It is why Central Valley Baptist Church on Airport Way just north of Manteca formed Freedom in Truth (FIT). It is an eight- to 10-month faith-based treatment program for men aimed at helping them overcome addictions.

FIT has been in operation for several years. The non-profit church organization just recently acquired a small ranch west of Ripon and south of Manteca that it is using as a way to help participants develop marketable skills as well as to provide them with a way to help cover the cost of the program.

The ranch at 10059 Lyons Road just off Austin Road south of West Ripon Road is conducting a free open house Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. It includes a BBQ as well as tour of the ranch and an explanation of how FIT works.

FIT participants help cover part of the $1,800 a month per person cost of the program by working in two businesses that the non-profit has going. One is for small construction jobs and the other is landscape maintenance. They have 65 yards they take care of on a weekly basis.

Art Thomas is the founder FIT. He tried Alcoholics Anonymous to address a drinking addiction but found it wasn’t effective. It wasn’t until he got involved with a faith-based recovery program that he was able to successfully get control of his addiction.

“We address the whole person,” Thomas said of FIT.

For more information on the FIT program contact Thomas at (209) 324-7297. Information on yard services is available through Joey Argus at (209) 701-9041, and the construction services information is available through Jon Dallara at (209) 303-6483.