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.