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Founder: 14-year struggle with substance use, recovery led to creating Boots on the Ground
Summary
Maddie Marnes described overcoming 14 years of substance use and chronic homelessness, achieving two years sober on July 19, and channeling that experience into starting Boots on the Ground.
Maddie Marnes told the Open host that she struggled with substance use for 14 years after leaving the military and experienced chronic homelessness before entering recovery. "I now have 2 years in recovery," she said, noting she reached two years clean and sober on July 19.
Marnes said those personal experiences are the impetus for her outreach: because she "saw the pain" on the streets, she wanted to give neighbors both food and human connection. She framed the work as a form of service continuity from her military time — "boots on the ground" — applied to community needs.
