A PLACE TO TURN
Leominster’s Montachusett Recovery Club holds an open house
LEOMINSTER » An open house held last week at Montachusett Recovery Club at 106 Carter St. gave attendees the opportunity to tour the facility, network with others, and learn more about the facility and its recovery programs and services.
Matthew Wright is the president of Montachusett Recovery Foundation Corp., a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity organization that helps fund the Montachusett Recovery Club, an independent community recovery facility that provides a nonjudgmental and welcoming environment for all people, free of any discrimination. Wright is a recovery coach, peer specialist, community health worker, and a recovery advocate at the club.
“The city of Leominster and surrounding communities in the Montachusett region lacked a central steadfast organization in which individuals suffering from substance use disorder and/or mental health issues, and/or their loved ones could seek support and services free of judgment and stigma and connect with a community of others with shared lived experience,” Wright said of what in
‘One key component in recovery is connection with others. ... MRC provides integrated peer supports and services not otherwise widely available in the area.’
spired him and the other 10 members of the Montachusett Recovery Foundation Corp. board of directors to open the club on Nov. 9, 2020.
The Montachusett Recovery Club offers many services to individuals beginning or in the addiction recovery process including recovery coaching, referral services, harm reduction, and medicated treatment for opioid use.
In addition, social services to clients such as transportation and assistance with housing, employment, and training are also available.
“Since our opening, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, in nearly every way,” Wright said. “Individuals, businesses, philanthropic organizations, health-care institutions, and the local government and emergency services have all shown support and encouragement, each in their own way. More importantly, numerous individuals have come to MRC in a dreadful state in their lives and have made astoundingly transformative changes towards healing and recovery.”
Wright said the club was unable to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony when it opened last fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 60 people attended the recent open house.
“We wanted individuals to
Matthew Wright, Montachusett Recovery Foundation Corp. president
have the opportunity to come see the place,” Wright said. “The reaction was great. There was a very celebratory atmosphere, and it was a great opportunity for those attending to network with others.”
The club is staffed during open hours with peer specialists, recovery coaches and addiction counselors. Wright said their partnership with Community HealthLink also provides on-site certified addiction recovery nurses as well as access to psychiatry and primary-care services.
“One key component in recovery is connection with others,” he said. “Oftentimes services and programs for substance use disorder lack the integrated peer supports that enable the type of connections that can only come from others who can relate with shared lived experience. MRC provides integrated peer supports and services not otherwise widely available in the area.”
Wright said he feels it is important to provide these tangible services to community members who need support with overcoming addiction.
“We are looking forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals by easing access to integrated peer support services, reducing stigma that surrounds the subject of substance use disorder and addiction, and helping enable self-help groups to thrive in sustaining recovery communities by providing a safe and accessible facility for their use.”
For more information, call 978-227-5036, email admin@montrecovery.com, visit montrecovery.com, and follow Montachusett Recovery Center on Facebook and Instagram.