I am writing this to share a deeply hurtful experience my sister and I had recently at this location. My sister is 10 months sober and has worked incredibly hard to rebuild her life. We visited the store to find items for her room--a joyful milestone in her recovery journey.
Instead of the supportive environment one would expect from an organization called "The Mission," we were profiled. Two female employees followed us through the aisles, looking at my sister with visible disdain and judging her for her tattoos and her appearance. It was heartbreaking to see someone who has fought so hard for her sobriety be made to feel "low" and "mortified" by those meant to serve the community.
However, we refuse to carry the weight of that judgment. To the two women who treated us this way: We forgive you. We truly hope you receive the message you were meant to receive--that every person who walks through your doors is a human being worthy of dignity, regardless of their past or their appearance. We hope your hearts are softened so that the next person in recovery who walks in feels supported, not shamed. read more
