Our History
Back in 1999, Ruth Snyder began visiting two women incarcerated in the Mecklenburg County Detention Center. She found the ladies broken, afraid and feeling very much alone. Ruth recruited others and they began to teach, mentor and encourage an increasing number of women at MCDC. When the women left MCDC to go to prison, personal contact continued through the mail and phone calls. It was out of this that "Changed Choices" was born.
We are a nonprofit 503 (3) (c) agency which continues to develop as we provide programs at MCDC and as we meet the needs of our clients whom we follow into prison. God blessed us with the Ruth Snyder Re-entry Home, named after our founder, for our clients who need housing as they reenter the community.
Our program along with partnerships in the community has made Changed Choices a leader in helping women build new lives beyond prison walls. Today, the very low recidivism rate of 4% continues to speak clearly to the effectiveness of the program. We continue to rely on our strong volunteer base and generous donors to carry out our mission.
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Women have been able to find gainful employment, have a place of their own, reunite with their children, and to engage and support women released after them.
Over the years, Changed Choices has relied heavily on hundreds of volunteers as well as many community partners. This has allow us to expand and help more incarcerated women get their lives back on track and rejoin society as contributing individuals.
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All of our successes are due to the goodness and greatness of God. He has guided, pushed, protected, encouraged and He never stops working.
To God be the glory!
