January 30, 2020
Jed Lenkarski, a healer, cyclist, and a camper/wilderness survivalist, has lived at Chestnut Crossing for 15 years. After overcoming a difficult time in his life, he has dedicated himself to healing and helping others to change their lives for the better.
After a long journey of self connection and forgiveness, Lenkarski moved to the YMCA in 2005. He then went back to school, and in 2007, he graduated from the Addiction Counseling Education program at Westfield State. He went on to work as a drug and alcohol counselor at the Phoenix House (a national addiction treatment organization). Lenkarski worked at the Phoenix House Springfield location for almost ten years, he was a dedicated case worker and eventually became a Senior Case Manager. While working at the Phoenix House Lenkarski was a force for good and helped many people towards recovery.
Today Lenkarski works at Hampton Farms on Avocado Street. Every morning he gets up at 3 to arrive at work at 4:30 and works a 9-hour day. Impressively, he cycles to and from work every day, even in the winter. In the summer he goes on 30-mile bike rides on the weekends.
This month marks Lenkarski’s 32 year anniversary of sobriety. He is a mentor and guide in helping people heal through Alcoholics Anonymous. He credits his own healing, lifestyle change, and his drive to help others to Alcoholics Anonymous. “I share my story at AA meetings to try to give people hope…I like going to meetings, I like hearing others’ stories. All of my friends are there, that’s my community.”
He feels his own sponsors helped him tremendously and he wants to give back, “My second sponsor taught me about how to live a good life, how to be loving, how to be kind, how to be honest. And I try to do that every day.”
Lenkarski loves to camp and hike, “When I’m hiking, I feel at peace, It’s just me and the wilderness.” He’s also into wilderness survival. “I’m the fire starter at the campgrounds, nobody touches the fire pit except for me. Everybody always says ‘Jed’s in charge’!”
At Chestnut Crossing he moved into his new Apartment in April 2019. “I love the new apartment…[especially] the kitchen area…everything is right there, I don’t have to walk two feet in any direction when I cook.”