Today we’d like to introduce you to David Carson
Hi David, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Hampton, SC. At an early age I started experimenting with drugs and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Eventually the drugs and the lifestyle grabbed ahold of me and by my late 20’s I was in full blow addiction. For many years I was able to be a “functional addict” until my mid thirties when I started using IV drugs and I became homeless and hopeless. I found my way to Greenville, SC in 2016. I was homeless and on the streets. I cried out to God for help and sometimes he has mysterious ways, and I was arrested the very next day. Since that day, I have not picked up another drug or drink. I was in jail for 6 months and then was sentenced to Miracle Hill Overcomers which is a 7 month rehab program. I took the program seriously and gave my life to Jesus. Following the rehab program, I moved into their transitional living program and lived there for 2 more years. While I was in transition, I met my wife and we were married in 2019. I had told her repeatedly that I wanted to help other men in addiction by starting my own transition house. Transition is a very important part of the recovery process. People in addiction fight so hard to get out of they hole they are in during rehab, but if they don’t have somewhere safe to go following rehab, they tend to return to the same people, places and things and this commonly leads to relapse. We were sitting at the table one night and my wife said, “I’m tired of hearing you talk about it, lets do it”. And that night we picked a name, filled out the paperwork with the state and filed for a 501c3 and started our non-profit organization, Sammy’s Mission. Sammy’s Mission is a faith based transition home for men in addiction recovery. We currently have 6 houses in the Greenville area and house 36 men. Along with our non-profit, I also own and operate Carson Tree Company. There was a resident in Sammy’s Mission in 2021 who had done tree work in the past and we started working together doing tree work and the Lord has just blessed me tremendously in this endeavor. Carson Tree Company has been in business since 2022 and we do high risk and everyday tree removals, pruning and treatment.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life is always going to have ups and downs. My life in addiction and prior to my surrender to God, the road was nothing but bumpy and mountainous.. However, since I have been in recovery and started letting God lead the way, the road is a lot more smooth and clearer.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Carson Tree Company specializes in high risk as well as day to day tree removal, pruning and treatment. We have a certified arborist on staff. We pride ourselves on our work ethic. We take care of our customers and their property and always try and leave the jobsite looking better than when we arrived. We take safety seriously, as we do dangerous work. We strive to have good communicaiton betwee us and the customers.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Least: Traffic and the quick expansion of people moving in.
Best: Being 30 minutes from the mountains, 3 hours from the beach. Greenville does offer every amenity you would need,
Contact Info:
- Website: www.carsontreecompany.com and www.sammysmission.org
