Pasco Business hires people recovering from drug addiction

NEW PORT RICHEY — For more than two decades, Kevin Tidema was lost in a cycle of addiction, incarceration and homelessness.

“My parents are deceased. I lost custody of my children and went into a downward spiral,” Tidema said.

Late last year, he said New Port Richey police helped him get treatment instead of putting him back in jail.

“I was talking to my son, and he said you go to jail every year, Dad. I know,” Kevin said.

One of the most important aspects of Tidema’s sobriety was finding a job.

That’s where Take 5 General Manager Nicholas Sperbeck comes into the picture. He hired Tidema with no experience and trained him to work in the garage.

“I focus on it a lot in this store because I have a lot of people who go through the program that Kevin did, and I’ve hired a few of them, and they’ve been very successful. They have referred a few, and more are coming in,” Sperbeck said.

Now Sperbeck has hired more than a dozen people with stories similar to Kevin’s. This gives them an income to live independently and the much-needed stability.

‘I’m tired of everyone seeing the white part of my hand where I’ve been taking it back and forth. So it’s time to see the brown part where I can give something back,” said Tidema.

Tidema wants to give back by helping others recover, and his boss does the same. He said the risk is worth the reward.

“In the end, it is definitely worth doing something to better the people around me and seeing them grow and mature as people. I don’t mind doing it. It’s not as risky as some people see it,” Sperbeck said.

Sperbeck said other Take 5 companies have hired people for recovery, and he would like to see other companies do the same.

New Port Richey police said they can help people get off the streets and connect with programs that will help them change their lives.

“I feel like if I can do it, anyone can do it because there are tools and resources to help us get back on our feet and get back into the community and try to make an impact here,” says Tidema. said.