TikTok drives donation to The Haven

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) — After nearly 19 years behind bars, Jesse Crosson is now a free man after being pardoned in August.

Crosson says he uses his experience of re-entering society to guide others through the process.

“One of the things I found out was that in central Virginia, really nowhere in Virginia, there are any central transition services for people coming out of prison to get out of prison,” he said.

Crosson shares his story on TikTok and now has over 500,000 followers.

“I published the story and immediately got this massive response, and people want to hear about the prison during the transition,” Crosson said.

Those social media followers have resulted in a pickup truck full of essential items all heading to The Haven.

“We have a couple hundred pairs of socks, some period items, hats, gloves, thermals, just a few basics,” Crosson said.

“Can you imagine sleeping out here tonight? So it’s very valuable,” said peer support specialist Herb Dickerson of The Haven.

Dickerson knows this donation will be put to good use.

“The most important things are jackets, coats, socks, anything that keeps you warm, because a lot of these people stay on the streets even though they have places to sleep. There are so many homeless people that there is not enough space for them to stay in the shelter,” he said.

By giving like this, Crosson is giving his second chance to help others get theirs.

“The more we can do to help facilitate that transaction or that transition, the more likely people are to succeed, and the more likely we are not to create future victims and not have rehab, not for the cost of being re-arrested.” , of retry, and re-imprisonment of people,” Crosson said.

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