“My primary focus for getting into JUMPSTART at that time was parole. That was my motivation. That’s all I wanted. But when I was denied, I had a choice to make. I said, do I quit? No. So I stayed.”

“I am still trying to figure that out,” he says, reflecting on a life marked by hard work, risk, and seasons of change. Raised in McBee, South Carolina, John attended high school in Hartsville and later Clemson University. In the years that followed, his path was anything but linear. He started a men’s shirt company that saw both success and failure.

Some people grow up in church. Others grow up around it. Jeremy Johnson was one of those kids. From VBS programs to Sunday mornings with his family, he was always near the things of God. He learned the songs. He knew the stories. He showed up to all the activities. But like he says today, “I was aware of God because I was close to Him. But I didn’t yet know what a true relationship with Him really meant.”

Meet Battalion Chief and JUMPSTART Volunteer Lindsay McDade. Alongside her therapy horse, Muffin, they are on a unique mission: to raise awareness around substance misuse and mental health. Instead of waiting for another overdose call, Lindsay and her team are stepping in earlier. They are meeting people where they are with prevention, education, and compassion.