We can’t look to the government to solve all our problems, including the scourge of drug addiction.

That’s why groups like Charcoal and Grey Inc. are so important. People like Herb Schaumann have an understanding of addiction that some in government can’t comprehend because they have never experienced the depths of addiction.

Schaumann has. He started Charcoal and Grey as a way to honor his wife Jesse, who died from an overdose. Schaumann himself found himself in the ICU from an overdose shortly after his wife’s death, had a stroke while in the hospital and had to learn to walk and speak again.

The result, after years of thought and legwork, is Charcoal and Grey Inc. The Warren-based nonprofit organization is focused on reducing recidivism and addressing substance use disorders through job placement, peer support and community programs.

The organization offers employment and support services. It provides immediate job placement, vocational training, and comprehensive recovery support to help individuals transitioning out of jail or treatment to establish stable, rewarding lives. The Release and Rise is a program created to assist individuals transitioning out of incarceration in reintegrating into society. It focuses on life skills, employability, and recovery support. The organization collaborates with Family Services to teach programs inside the Warren County Jail.

Charcoal and Grey offer lawn care services with affordable lawn mowing, leaf cleanup, snow removal, and more.

Open to the general public, the organization offers discounts for older adults, low-income households, and individuals on a fixed income. Profits from the service support recovery and re-entry programs.

Charcoal and Grey also collaborates closely with local agencies such as CareerLink and OVR to help individuals secure employment. Charcoal and Grey’s website has information on the organization’s programming, services, and community events, along with ways to get involved and to contribute. For more information, visit www.charcoalandgrey.org.

Organizations like Charcoal and Grey have a story to tell. Those stories touch the lives of hundreds of people each year in a way that the government cannot. In this case, Charcoal and Grey fills an important niche in the lives of those the agency helps – and for its founder.