TUSCOLA, Ill. (WAND) — After losing two sons to addiction, one Tuscola woman is turning her grief into hope for others facing similar struggles.

Linda Scribner lost her son Jordan, known to many as Petey, to an accidental overdose in 2014. Five years later, she lost another son, Jacob, the same way.

"It's kind of my way of keeping their memory alive," Scribner said. "It's here in front of me every day. You know, I think about them every day." 

Following their deaths, Scribner felt called to create something that could help others battling addiction. For years, Scribner wanted to establish a sober living home, a resource she said was not available when her sons needed help.

After years of fundraising, securing grants and gathering support from the community, that vision became reality with the opening of PJ's Place. The name comes from the first initial of both of her sons. 

"My vision is that they come here and learn all the life skills necessary to productively be back in society, and they can even come back and help," Scribner said. "Plus all the nature here is very healing. Caring for animals, especially the horses, [is] always a therapeutic thing." 

Scribner also has a garden area that the men can help with and a recreation area where they can work out and play pool. She hopes having healthy outlets helps the recovery process. 

Little memories of Petey and Jacob are spread around the house. From a coffee mug to pictures, Scribner hopes they serve as a reminder and inspiration to the men who live at the home. 

"They're here every day with me, and they'll be here with the guys here every day," Scribner said.

Soon, PJ's Place will be home to eight men at a time, providing them with support and resources as they work toward recovery and rebuilding their lives. Scribner plans for men to stay at the house anywhere between three months and a year. 

The home is fully stocked to make the transition easier. Items like dishes, bedding, furniture and appliances were donated by community members to create an enjoyable living space. 

Scribner expects the first four residents to move in soon. For more details on PJ's Place and Scribner's non-profit, you can visit this website.

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