Confidential free help

Confidential free help

Greenfield Recorder – Letter to the Editor Published: 4/21/2020 9:04:20 AM Thank you for sharing the letter from Mary Carey about the increased risk for domestic violence under the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. In addition to the critical support provided by NELCWIT, I am writing to let your readers know of another domestic violence resource in Franklin County: The Salasin Project also supports women and children who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence. Currently, Salasin staff are available by phone to listen, provide individual and family advocacy and safety planning. The Salasin Project also recognizes the connection between violence and addiction and has the flexibility to provide ongoing support to community members on their journeys of healing and recovery. [CONTINUE READING]
Confidential free help

Consortium Partners with Local Businesses to Support Frontline Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mary Kate Farley-Dimino Western Massachusetts Training Consortium (413) 536-2401 x5511 [email protected]  

Consortium Partners with Local Businesses to Support Frontline Workers

During a time of economic uncertainty, local businesses support each other as they fight on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOLYOKE, MA April 1, 2020 – With societal crisis comes the opportunity for mutual aid. As the COVID-19 pandemic grips the nation, community members and local businesses have sought opportunities to support each other during this time of need. One such partnership blossomed between the Western Massachusetts Training Consortium and local small businesses including Silk Deli & Bistro on Northampton Street, Simos Produce in Springfield, Fernandez Family Restaurant and the Delaney House in Holyoke.

Labels with message of appreciation for some staff members of the Consortium. They read: “May this food nourish your spirit and be a reminder of how much we appreciate you! :)”

The Consortium provides key community-based support to a number of programs and communities throughout Western Mass and beyond. One program, Home & Community Connections, supports eleven 24-Hour homes for people with Developmental/Intellectual disabilities throughout Hampden County. When COVID-19 struck Western Massachusetts, staff members began working seven-day shifts to minimize exposure both to themselves and to the people they support. Meanwhile, local food producers and restaurants were struggling to keep their doors open as businesses were shut down across the state. Seeing an opportunity to build and support community, the Consortium connected with Silk Deli & Bistro and Simos Produce to deliver prepared meals and boxes of produce to each of the eleven homes. More meals from the Fernandez Family Restaurant, a family-run Puerto Rican restaurant based out of Holyoke, were delivered Tuesday March 31st, and there is already a plan to distribute ready to eat meals from the Delaney House on 4/7. Kristel Applebee, the Executive Director of the Consortium, expressed her appreciation to both local businesses and Consortium employees supporting people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Consortium has a 45-year history of creating conditions for community, so it only made sense, during this difficult time, to honor community by partnering with local food suppliers who are losing business. Silk, Simos Produce, Fernandez and Delaney House Restaurants are among the local businesses with whom we’ve purchased to bring delicious food to those who are directly supporting folks in our 24-Hour Supported Homes.  For our team members to have a hot meal or delicious produce hand delivered to them with encouraging words, by me and others, sends a message to them that we value their significant contributions at this most pressing time.”
Silk Deli & Bistro shared via Facebook how critical it was to partner with the Consortium, as it meant being able to continue supporting other customers in the community. “Thx to this local Agency, today we can keep our doors open and keep our business running to please our customers Thx a lot[.]” It can be easy to get bogged down with feelings of despair and disconnect from local communities, particularly when practicing “social” or physical distancing. Yet the spirit to connect, build up, and collaborate lives on when channeled creatively. Using strong community relationships, the Consortium provides an example of how fear can be transformed into hope. The Western Massachusetts Training Consortium, founded in 1975, is a learning organization, committed to creating conditions in which people with lived experience pursue their dreams and strengthen our communities through full participation. To learn more, visit their website at http://wmtcinfo.org/.
Social distancing policies threaten the cornerstone of addiction recovery

Social distancing policies threaten the cornerstone of addiction recovery

The Recover Project on Federal Street in Greenfield.

By ANDY CASTILLO Staff Writer Published: 3/28/2020 7:00:16 AM …“Folks in early recovery really need the connection. And, these folks don’t have access to a lot of the online meetings that are going on,” said Peggy Vezina, program director at the RECOVER Project. The nonprofit Federal Street program provides a slew of social services and meets the physical needs of those who have nothing — “Bus passes. Socks. Gloves. Water. Small bottles of hand sanitizer. We’ve taken a giant step backward in terms of stigma. This population has been largely ignored in all of the efforts to keep people safe.” [CONTINUE READING]
Mutual Support in an Age of Social Distancing – How One Peer-Run Organization is Adapting to COVID-19

Mutual Support in an Age of Social Distancing – How One Peer-Run Organization is Adapting to COVID-19

Connection, whether one-on-one or in groups, is at the heart of peer support. In a time when social distancing, shelter-in-place, and stay-at-home orders proliferate, the Western Massachusetts Recovery Learning Community/Wildflower Alliance (WMRLC) is finding creative ways to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances dictated by the novel coronavirus…

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Recovery Coaches Offer Nonjudgmental Support To Fill Addiction Treatment Gaps

Recovery Coaches Offer Nonjudgmental Support To Fill Addiction Treatment Gaps

Trevor

  FEB 25, 2020

…“I’ve taken phone calls from police officers that are literally, you know, hot calls,” said Trevor Dayton, a DART recovery coach [and Northampton Recovery Center member.] “This happened less than 60 minutes ago. Can you call them now? They’d like to talk.’ Sometimes that’s all it takes — responding in the moment to help somebody move forward from where they’re at, and not sure how to move forward by themselves.”

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Social distancing policies threaten the cornerstone of addiction recovery

GCC summit attendees propose more recovery events, increased transportation

Participants in a Recovery Summit at Greenfield Community College discuss sober events in and around Greenfield.

Participants in a Recovery Summit at Greenfield Community College discuss sober events in and around Greenfield.

By ZACK DeLUCA
Staff Writer

Published: 2/19/2020 10:02:53 PM

GREENFIELD — Members of Greenfield Community College (GCC) and the surrounding community discussed the possibility of hosting more frequent recovery events and increasing access to affordable transportation during Wednesday’s GCC Recovery Summit…

Citizens asked about community access to, and awareness of, community recovery resources or events. According to Trust, GCC holds two recovery meetings a week for the public. “All Recovery Meetings” are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. Meetings for the RECOVER Project are held Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m.

Steven “Skip” Sommer, a local recovery activist who is recovering from addiction himself, said transportation is a key point of interest. While the community college hosts events and meetings, he said it can be difficult for people to afford a bus ticket or rely on public transit.

“They don’t want to walk the whole way out here,” Sommer said.

“It’s a long walk, I can attest to that,” agreed Zack Desjardins, a peer volunteer with The RECOVER Project who is recovering from addiction.

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