LYNN — The Recovery Exchange, a long-term peer recovery center on the corner of Exchange Street and Spring Street, celebrated its first anniversary Thursday. There was a party at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park as members of the exchange enjoyed cake, danced, and participated in raffles. Executive Program Director Kim Patterson said the center has grown from 61 to 98 members since it first opened.
“We’ve accomplished a lot in the past year as far as getting our name out there and familiarizing ourself with the community,” she said. Community Engagement Specialist Mark McCarthy said the center has made a lot of connections over the past year, such as with Eliot Community Health Services, an addiction-treatment and mental-health services provider; the Police Department; and local methadone clinics. He added that a project the exchange’s members have taken up is helping assemble bags of hygiene products and bringing them to My Brother’s Table, a soup kitchen in the city, and to areas with homeless encampments.
McCarthy said members will add pamphlets with information about the Recovery Exchange to the bags to encourage people to seek help through the center. The center has an on-site recovery coach who can help people find addiction-treatment services. “We just try to support people that are unhoused by giving them things they might need, and in turn will also let them know about our center and how we can support them,” McCarthy said.
Patterson said the members .
