Before former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin took to the stage Sunday in Missoula, Jacqueline Strothoff spoke of break-ups, rejection and drug use. Strothoff shared stories of her dysfunctional childhood when, as a teenage heroin addict, she carried twins who didn’t make it to see the world because she was so badly beaten.
When her brother came to check on her one day, she said she pressured him into using heroin. The second he shot up, he began to convulse and died in her arms instantly.
Strothoff’s story sent an emotional wave through the 1,600 people who attended the Teen Challenge Montana fundraiser at the Hilton Garden Inn. The fundraiser was for the Montana Women’s Outreach, Teen Challenge “Raising the Roof” campaign.
Strothoff’s story is extreme, but Teen Challenge Montana Executive Director Jan Henderson said most of the women’s stories are just as heart- wrenching.
Palin spoke at the event in hopes of helping the group raise $450,000 to install a commercial kitchen and dining area at the Montana Women’s Outreach facility in Missoula. The 12-to-18 month Christian recovery program houses up to 20 women to help them get clean, find hope and better their lives.
Palin said the reason that Teen Challenge works is because it’s a Christian-based program and they don’t take government money. The program is funded purely by donation and fundraising.
“Government can’t fix the problem,” Palin said. “Government is the problem. Government can’t dry a tear or lend a shoulder or put a family back together.”
According to Henderson, the kitchen and dining area at the facility have had ice on the inside walls during winter, and the heat, plumbing and space is inadequate for a healthy, clean environment.
“What better person to bring to help us fundraise than Sarah?” Henderson said.
The crowd was dotted with jackets similar to Palin’s signature red blazer, and red hats promoting Palin’s book, “Going Rogue.” Outside the event, protesters were threatening to burn her book. Some protesters sign’s read, “Palin is Poison to America.”
Palin spoke under an arch of red, white and blue balloons and honed her speech on the importance of “God, family and the country.”
The majority of her speech focused on God and her experience as a pregnant 43-year-old who gave birth to Trig, her son with Down syndrome. Palin said he was skeptical about her situation and struggled with the idea of having a child with special needs.
“God can’t give you anything you can’t handle,” Palin said. “I just kept asking God: How is this going to work out?”
Palin said Teen Challenge works in the same way. She said the program helps girls find hope in their connection with God.
“God gave me eyes to see perfection in my son. Instead of fear, I had joy,” Palin said, speaking of holding Trig for the first time.
Palin said her story is nothing compared to what the women of Teen Challenge are faced with, but she emphasized that everyone has different struggles and God can help them through it.
“This event is not about a building,” Palin said. “It’s about changing lives. There’s a lot of brokenness out there. Someone has to step up to the plate and provide tools to help these girls.”
The evening came to a close by auctioning off a Teen Challenge T-shirt with Palin’s signature. The bidding war started at $500 and escalated to $3,500, which Palin matched.
Before she left the stage Palin said people should greet each day with enthusiasm and applause, as Trig does.
“We should have courage and optimism,” Palin said. “This is a good country with good people. We are supposed to be the ‘shining city on a hill.’ But love of thy neighbor starts at home.”