Page 12 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 31, 2020 Dream becomes reality: Bridge Recovery Center ready to open doors in Malden Five-year crusade results in establishment of much-needed resource for those battling addiction By Steve Freker P aul Hammersley remembers the six-year-old question vividly, posed to him by the City of Malden’s chief executive. In 2014, Hammersley and a host of other dedicated locals had just launched a grassroots organization, Malden Overcoming Addiction (MOA). MOA was created and fueled by a goal to stop the stigma of addiction while assisting those afflicted with the disease and their families with resources they needed. During a discussion shortly afterward, Hammersley recalled a question asked of him by Mayor Gary Christenson, a stalwart supporter of MOA and its mission from its inception. “He [the Mayor] asked me, ‘What’s the end game [for MOA]?” Hammersley, now in his seventh year as chairman of MOA’s Board, was ready with his answer. “I want a building,” he told the Mayor. “I want a building where people can go get the help they deserve.” “We needed a place where people could go” Hammersley says he was not totally familiar with the term “recovery center” at the time – “I just knew we needed a place where people could go, a place where they would be able to talk to someone and have access to the help and resources they needed if they suffered from addiction.” Fast-forward to today and Hammersley is thrilled to report that the dream has indeed become a reality. A longtime crusade that has experienced its fair share of twists and turns, defeats and victories has culminated in the fact that the Bridge Recovery Center will open its doors in Malden in early September. “We are looking at being able to provide services to people who need them just after Labor Day,” Hammersley told The Advocate, at the Center’s location at 239 Commercial St. The Bridge Recovery Center is modeled after others that have come before it, most notably in its core mission as a peer-to-peer recovery center. At a peer-driven center, members create and plan all events and activities. Monthly community meetings give members the opportunity to participate in the planning process. Membership is free to all, Hammersley said, and all those who participate at the center are encouraged “to give back to others by volunteering or sharing their experience, strength and hope with their peers.” Informational meeting held Tuesday night On Tuesday night, a virtual Zoom meeting was held by MOA in conjunction with the Gavin Foundation to officially introduce the Bridge Recovery Center of Malden to the public. Participating in the meeting were Hammersley, State Sen. Jason Lewis, D-Winchester, Malden and John McGahan, CEO of the Gavin Foundation, which operates the Devine Recovery Center in South Boston, and others. MOA has partnered with the Gavin Foundation on a two-year agreement to assist in operations at the new Malden-based center to facilitate the establishment of an effective and well-run site. “We partnered with Gavin Foundation due to their proven track record and success in operating recovery centers,” Hammersley said. “In two years we intend to have Malden Overcoming Addiction running operations in full. We are very grateful we have Gavin Foundation on board.” Tuesday night McGahan gave a PowerPoint presentation in which he stressed what the recovery center would offer, as well what the recovery center is not. “It is not a detox center or rehab center and not a treatment program,” McGahan said. “We are not allowed to prescribe or dispense medication of any type. We are also not a day shelter … Our main purpose will be to provide referrals for services for those who need them the most, those battling addiction and their families.” Sen. Lewis, Rep. Donato are longtime supporters Sen. Lewis, who, along with Mayor Christenson and State Rep. Paul Donato, D-Malden, Medford, have been at the forefront of the recovery center mission from day one, made perhaps the most telling statement of the evening on Tuesday. “I want to commend this tremendous partnership between MOA and its leader Paul Hammersley and John McGahan and the Gavin Foundation and the tireless effort that have made Paul’s dream possible,” Sen. Lewis said. “It is not an overstatement to say the establishment of the Bridge Recovery Center in Malden is going to save lives … When I look back on my years in public service, I will regard my support to see this project to fruition as one of my proudest moments.” “It has taken so much work from so many people to make this happen,” said Hammersley, pointing to Sen. Lewis, Rep. Donato and Mayor Christenson and the members of the Malden City Council as continued, strong supporters. “I can’t say enough about how much effort Senator Lewis and Rep. Donato and Rep. [Steve] Ultrino have done to support this project at the state level and help us get the funding we needed. It is simply amazing, and we will always be so grateful.” Hammersley also recalled Eight-year lease was signed in April In April, in the midst of the pandemic’s early stages, Hammersley signed an eightyear lease for the 239 Commercial St. location, noting the assistance of Rep. Donato with that essential part of the process. Donato also attended the meeting where the lease-signing took place. “He [Donato] helped greatly to get all the parties together.” As for the present day, work is now underway with a buildout at the site to make sure it conforms with the state funding guidelines. That buildout was made possible by a generous, $72,000 grant from the Adelaide Bayrd Foundation. “Once again, we got some much-needed help from a generous benefactor; we thank the Bayrd Foundation Board and its chairman, Hank Kezer, for their generosity,” Hammersley said. Like a proud papa, Hammersley will be beaming when the doors finally swing open for the Bridge Recovery Center. “There will probably be some tears as well, but they will be happy tears. This has been a long time coming,” he said. the years of effort and commitment his longtime friend, the late Domenic DiSario, contributed to the crusade that led to the realization of the Bridge Recovery Center. DiSario, one of the founding members of MOA, passed away this past year. “MOA would not be where it is today without all the hard work and dedication of Domenic, who left us way too soon this past year,” Hammersley said. “He [DiSario] was a dear friend and the recovery center was every bit as much his dream as it was mine.” The Bridge Recovery CenAs Gavin Foundation CEO John McGahan looks on, Malden Overcoming Addiction (MOA) Board Chairman Paul Hammersley signs an eight-year lease for the Bridge Recovery Center, which will operate at 239 Commercial St. in Malden. (Courtesy Photo/Malden Overcoming Addiction) ter will operate in Malden, but at no cost to the city. The operations are entirely funded by a $400,000 renewal annual grant from the state Dept. of Public Health. It will have seven employees, a director, Keriann Caccavaro, an assistant director and seven recovery technicians. Hammersley noted that all employees, from the top down, will all be those who are in recovery, to go along with the stated mission of being a peer-to-peer recovery center.
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