by LaMara HunterKelly | Feb 25, 2020 | In The News
By KAREN BROWN • 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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by LaMara HunterKelly | Feb 19, 2020 | In The News
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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by LaMara HunterKelly | Feb 17, 2020 | In The News
By BERA DUNAU
Staff Writer
Published: 2/17/2020 12:05:46 AM
NORTHAMPTON — A local nonprofit that helps people struggling with addiction is set to move into the former La Fiorentina pastry shop on Armory Street.
“We anticipate being able to move in in May,” said Lynn Ferro, director of the Northampton Recovery Center.
She said the nonprofit has signed a lease to occupy the former bakery, which will require extensive renovation. The recovery center has accepted a bid for the work, which will begin as soon as all permits are obtained, Ferro said.
La Fiorentina, which opened in Northampton in 1991, closed last summer.
The Northampton Recovery Center helps people recovering from addiction and offers support for the loved ones of those in recovery or struggling with addiction. Founded in the fall of 2016, it provides a safe space, programming and social events for those it serves.
“Community and connection are key antidotes to addiction,” Ferro said.
The organization is mostly run by volunteers and uses a peer participatory process. This means that those who use and are most affected by the programming have a primary role in how programming at the rehab center is developed and participate in the organization on every level.
“We are not a top-down agency,” she said.
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by LaMara HunterKelly | Feb 14, 2020 | In The News
Athol Daily News – Staff Report
Published: 2/13/2020 10:04:13 PM
ATHOL — The Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region, in collaboration with the North Quabbin Recovery Center, the North Quabbin Community Coalition and the RECOVER Project, is hosting Loving Your Recovery — a free, fun, and family-friendly event to celebrate the positive aspects of recovery — Saturday, Feb. 15.The event will be held 1-4 p.m. at the Athol Town Hall, 584 Main St. A light buffet will be provided as well as crafts, and entertainment. Everyone is welcome, not just those directly impacted by addiction.
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![Welcome New Salasin Director, Becky Lockwood]()
by LaMara HunterKelly | Jan 27, 2020 | In The News
We are thrilled to announce that Becky Lockwood has accepted the position as the Consortium’s new Salasin Project Director beginning on Monday January 27, 2020!
Becky Lockwood comes to Salasin Project with nearly three decades of social services experience. In her most recent position, she worked with survivors of interpersonal violence providing support, counseling and systems advocacy. As the Co-Director she helped significantly expand services by securing increased funding. She managed a large budget and coordinated a community response team that focused on survivor centered best practices.
Becky is looking forward to working with and learning from the experienced staff and participants of the Salasin Project. The Project’s mission of mutual empowerment and community building with survivors is exciting and hopeful. Becky believes in the power of relationships to promote healing and positive change. She is also enthusiastic about returning to Franklin County and participating in the community networks and coalitions.
Nature, creativity and family are the sustaining fundamentals in Becky’s life. You can frequently find her in the woods walking her dog, Mattie and bird watching. She hails from Northampton, MA and loves to cook, sew, crochet and craft gifts for her family and beloved friends.
by LaMara HunterKelly | Nov 30, 2019 | In The News
By MAUREEN O’REILLY and MAX MARCUS
Staff Writers
Published: 11/30/2019 11:00:52 AM
After a recent service at the First Congregational Church in Ashfield, some of the churchgoers gathered upstairs to make herbal medicines and thank-you cards for migrant agricultural workers throughout Pioneer Valley.
The church has partnered with the People’s Medicine Project, an organization that first began as a community garden and has since added additional educational pieces, said the project’s director, Leslie Chaison, who is also a congregant at First Congregational Church.
“We try to bridge wellness resources in our community with community need,” Chaison said, of the goal of People’s Medicine Project…
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