COMMUNITY Gándara Recovery Centers Celebrate National Recovery Month The Gándara Center’s Hope for Holyoke Recovery Center hosted Holyoke Recovery Day on Sept. 29 in honor of National Recovery Month. The day began with a march from Heritage State Park to the event location at Veterans Park where community services organizations greeted event attendees and showcased the array of services available to Holyoke residents. Live music, spoken word performances, and personal stories from those in recovery were highlights of the day’s activities. Additionally, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse presented Hope for Holyoke with a proclamation in honor of Holyoke Recovery Day. “At a time where the opiate crisis is so prominent, and we’re often focused on overdose deaths and tragic consequences of addiction, this is a great day to celebrate recovery,” said Debra Flynn-Gonzalez, Gándara Center’s Hope for Holyoke program director. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has celebrated National Recovery Month for the past 27 years to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and to celebrate the people who recover. National Recovery Month highlights the achievements of those individuals who have reclaimed their lives in long-term recovery and honors the treatment and recovery service providers who make recovery possible. Recovery Month also promotes the message that recovery in all of its forms is possible and encourages citizens to take action to help expand and improve the availability of effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services for those in need. September is National Recovery Month Celebrating Puerto Rican Pride in Springfield The Gándara Center’s Hope for Holyoke crew proudly represented the organization again this year at Springfield’s annual Puerto Rican Parade on Sept. 17. This year, Gándara’s float celebrated National Recovery Month and showcased activities and “life in recovery.” Over 100 marching contingencies participated in the event this year, marking one of the largest turn-outs in the event’s history to date.
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