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Once homeless, Medford veteran pays it forward Jesse Montague talks about his inspiration to give back to homeless Christmas morning at Living Waters Church in downtown Medford. [Mail Tribune / Andy Atkinson] Monday Dec 25, 2017 at 11:01 PM Dec 25, 2017 at 11:11 PM Nick Morgan Mail Tribune @mtcrimebeat With the help of volunteers who understand life on the streets all too well, a silent night became a lively Christmas morning for the down-and-out in downtown Medford. Homeless people by the dozens enjoyed a hot breakfast Christmas morning, thanks to efforts of Jesse Montague and Living Waters Church volunteers. Though the church's sanctuary was available, event organizer Jesse Montague said the annex building  — once a car lot office — served the purpose much better. "Some people don't want to walk into a facility," Montague said, adding that there was a time when he would've been one uncomfortable entering a church or formal office when he was struggling the most. Just before 8 a.m. Monday, among those enjoying a breakfast burrito with eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese and tater tots was Ross Johnson. Staying at the Medford Gospel Mission the past week — his first week clean and sober after struggling with addiction — Johnson said he had no expectations for Christmas. He was blown away when volunteer Bill Allen offered rides from the mission to the annex. "It's a blessing," Johnson said, overwhelmed by the hot meal and gifts of hand-warmers, gloves, hats and six pairs of socks. "I can use it all." Montague knows the value of new socks. Six pairs can last as long as a month for someone living outside, he said. Over the past two years, Montague has overcome drug and alcohol addiction, as well as found stability after living on the streets since 1996, when he left the Army. Montague now has a driver's license, pays his child support and has secured an apartment. Montague attributes his life change to friends such as Allen, who showed him "tough love." For example, Allen would offer to take him to dinner, but Allen told him he couldn't take him along if he'd been drinking. "Next time," Montague recalls Allen saying when he wasn't sober. That guidance helped motivate Montague to stop drinking and smoking cigarettes, he said. "I have a soft spot for people who need a little help," Allen said. "I was hard-headed," Montague said. "I was a bully." Montague remembers the holidays as a particularly difficult time, serving as a reminder he was estranged from family in Virginia. He felt as though everyone had turned away from him. "The worst part about Christmas for me was seeing everybody else with family," Montague said. "So what I did was isolate — I got away from everybody." Volunteer Geri Langlais said there was a time when she lost everything in California, causing her to be homeless for several months. Though she's grateful she "didn't land outside" at the time, she said she understands "those who are living outside" better because of that experience. "When I have a lack and then I get, I appreciate it so much more," Langlais said. — Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat.