Too few bodies, too much work for Drugs Bring Death

LIMA — A $2 poster and a few hours standing at the corner of Catalpa Street and St. Johns Avenue wound up taking more money and more time than Jesse Lowe ever could have imagined.

Almost two years after the day Lowe unknowingly launched a movement called Drugs Bring Death, the founder and still-leader finds himself overwhelmed by both the support he has received and expectation for his future.

“I never thought a $2 poster would go this far. In honesty, it’s kind of overwhelming sometimes,” Lowe said.

Lowe held an informal meeting Saturday afternoon at The Meeting Place in hopes of recruiting help and adding a few more bodies to his seven-volunteer crew. About a dozen people showed up, most of them already friends of the program.

For the past two years, Lowe has received a lot of attention for his Drugs Bring Death program. Most of the press goes to the rallies and public events the group has hosted. What doesn’t get as much attention are the dozens of phone calls, the hundred of e-mail and the constant nights Lowe and his volunteers spend transporting addicts to a place they can get help, or just sitting and talking to families who are out of ideas.

On Saturday, Lowe was leaving the meeting to go wash a few bags full of clothes he needed to distribute to the families of some of the men and women he has helped place in rehab. Later, he expected a call from a family whose addict son needs help. His hope was the evening would end with yet another drive to Columbus or Cincinnati to check a new client into rehab.

“We’re constantly helping people with food and with transportation, helping them find jobs or helping them get a resume together. It never stops,” Lowe said.

Despite support from area police and businesses, the group continues to struggle. It needs volunteers, Lowe said, people willing to write or type or even help mentor children in the local schools.

“I just absolutely do not want to give up on this. I’m praying people in Lima decide to reach out and act,” Lowe said.

It’s the praying set Lowe said he is most hoping to draw out. The Christian-based rehab group has had support from some churches but not as much as he had expected.

“My biggest prayer is that the churches realize that the church is the people and not the building. They need to get out of those four walls, get off their butts and help the people,” Lowe said.

“I need help. I do not want to burn myself out and I do not want to burn my team members out. I need help.”

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Drug Bring Death is looking for volunteers. They need people with writing and secretarial skills, school mentors and others willing to work in their outreach to addicts. To volunteer, call Jesse Lowe at 419-371-3383, or contact him at jjlowe@drugsbringdeath.us.