Lynn Ferro, Director of the Northampton Recovery Center talks during the grand opening Thursday, August 26, 2021.By BRIAN STEELE
Staff Writer
Published: 8/26/2021 9:08:55 PM

NORTHAMPTON — “It’s hard for me to talk,” Ralph D’Amico said, choking back tears. “If I knew this type of stuff years ago, I wouldn’t be in the situation I am now.”

He was speaking to a standing-room-only crowd Thursday afternoon at the grand opening of the Northampton Recovery Center’s new location at 25 Armory St., the site of the former La Fiorentina Pastry Shop.

“This is like my family,” D’Amico said, describing for more than 50 people the impact that the center’s addiction recovery programs have had on his life. “I came here, originally, from the Hampshire County jail. I had a lot of counseling, learned a lot about addiction. … Now I volunteer here twice a week.

“If you really need help and want a good place to go,” he said, once again losing his voice as he spoke through tears, “come here.”

Powerful emotions were on display at Thursday’s grand opening, but the atmosphere was one of celebration. The new 3,000-square-foot site is nearly triple the size of the previous one-room location at 2 Gleason Plaza, and features a wide range of amenities and recovery resources that were unavailable until now…

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You may support the NRC by visiting the Consortium’s secure donation page and choosing “Northampton Recovery Center” as the designated recipient: https://www.northamptonrecoverycenter.org/donate