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Dear friends, 
 
What’s Love Got to Do with It? 
 
It’s February and we are surrounded by messages of love. When we think of love, we often think of romantic love; that heady, delirious feeling that we experience when falling into it.  
 
But the love we discover in recovery is a different kind of love. It’s love that is expressed through compassion. As we come into recovery others see our sorrow, distress, and fear and understand what it’s like. Through their understanding and compassion, love transforms and changes us at the deepest levels.  
 
Philia love, one of seven kinds of love defined by the Greeks is about friendship and the mutual benefit and trust that is developed between friends. In recovery we develop deep friendships unlike what many of us have known in the past. Our friendships grow out of shared experience of recovery, learning to “show up for one another,” being open and vulnerable, being trustworthy, and being honest. It’s a kind of brotherly or sisterly love.  
 
Another kind of love defined by the Greeks is agape. Agape is the kind of love that is without condition, given unreservedly to those who are undeserving or who society sees as “less than.” Agape demonstrates love through actions. In recovery this is the love we experience when we welcome a newcomer with open arms and no judgement. We pick up the phone and call. We offer a ride to a meeting. Agape demonstrates love through actions. 
 
PRCC and the many recovery community centers throughout Maine are places of love in action. Our passion and love for recovery is shared across the state from Caribou to Bridgton, from Bath to Ellsworth, and Bangor to Houlton as just a few examples.  
 
For information about weekly meetings and activities at PRCC or to find a recovery community center near you, please go to portlandrecovery.org 
Kindly,

Leslie Clark, Executive Director
Recovery advocates love helping people in
recovery. Here's what they say:
“I love working with people in recovery because it's very gratifying to see the change in people’s lives after overcoming so much,” Kathleen Williams, co-founder and director of the Larry Labonte Recovery Center.
“I personally love the work we do here at the BARN. We have a fantastic team who comes together for the greater good of our community. Connection is essential in a person’s recovery journey, and that's what we love to promote here… a safe place for anyone seeking support,” Erica Oliveira, community outreach specialist at BARN. 
“I love being there to lend an ear, a hand, and a heart. Someone was there for me,” Mimi Nangle, of Your Place Inc.
“What I love about helping people in recovery is that I can help build a sense of support for them when they struggle. Being new in recovery, I often felt alone. I try my best to help people feel a little less alone,” Regina Spencer, recovery coach coordinator & registered recovery coach at Roads to Recovery Community Center. 
"What I love is hearing someone say, "I've been looking forward to this all week!" or "I can't wait until the event on Saturday!" I love seeing that together we recover,” Kelly Cookson, director of Save a Life Recovery Resource Center.  
Theresa checking on one of our members via phone.
"I love that I can help people even a little bit because I went through so much in my life. Now, I can give back. It gives me meaning," Theresa Dumond, a recovery coach at Lake Region Recovery Center.
“I love so much about what I do, but the most meaningful thing is that I get to make people feel like they are cared for. I am so honored that I get to be a part of someone's story,” Beth Alteri, Harm Reduction Outreach Coordinator at INSPIRE Recovery Center. 
Operation HOPE says goodbye to Sharon.
A heartfelt thank you to Sharon Vigue for your dedication and service to Operation HOPE at PRCC.
Sharon joined Operation HOPE through AmeriCorp’s Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative in 2021. 

Sharon is one of the first people to greet individuals seeking help from Operation HOPE, which helps people find treatment without fear of going to jail. She assists with intakes, finds treatment options, and provides resources.  

“I love being able to connect people to services who otherwise wouldn’t be able to take advantage of them due to not having an income, social support, or health insurance,” Vigue said. “I feel like it helps to eliminate the barriers that a lot of people have to access treatment.”

From June 1 to Nov. 30, 2022, Operation HOPE served 141 people, of which 59 people were placed in a treatment program and 67 people entered sober living.

Vigue’s last day at Operation HOPE will be February 28. She plans to continue working with people with substance use disorder and mental health issues.

Last week, the Scarborough Police Department announced its plan to discontinue Operation HOPE. PRCC is working with community partners to find a way to keep this life-saving program going. Together we must find a way.

For more information about Operation HOPE and PRCC’s efforts to keep this vital program going, go to PRCC.
Sober Bowl time!
RCC's across Maine gather to watch the Super Bowl
Come join Young People in Recovery for football, fellowship and fun at their 1st Annual Sober Bowl party!
Come hang out at Larry Labonte Recovery Center and watch the Super Bowl!
Bangor Area Recovery Network, BARN, is hosting a Super Bowl Bash. Come out and watch the game with us!
NEW MEETING ALERT


PRCC: 
  • SMART Recovery: 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday at 102 Bishop St. The meeting is a mutual support group utilizing science-based self-empowerment for addiction. For more info, PRCC.
 
  • Overeaters Anonymous: 10 a.m. Saturday at 102 Bishop Street. The meeting is based on OA’s 12&12 and Big Book study. A reminder, OA encourages everyone, no matter how you identify with having or struggling with disordered eating, “Whatever problem you may have with food you are welcome at this meeting.” For more info, PRCC.
  
INSPIRE Recovery Center: 
  • SMART Recovery for Teens: 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday at 24 Church St. Ellsworth.  
 
Larry Labonte Recovery Center: 
  • Narcotics Anonymous: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at 412 Waldo St. Rumford; and SMART Recovery 5 p.m. Tuesday at 412 Waldo St. Rumford.  
 
Aroostook Recovery Center of Hope: 
  • Open Discussion: 11 a.m. Tuesday at 106 Main St. in Houlton. The meeting offers a safe space for people to express any challenges or triggers and to get resources and support.   
 
  • Maintaining Sobriety: 11 a.m. on Friday. The group focus is relapse prevention and resources. 
 
Pir2Peer Recovery Center:  
  • Narcotics Anonymous: Noon on Monday, Tuesday, Friday at the center, 2323 Medway Rd. Medway. For more information, call
Valentine's Day Events and Things To Do:


Bangor Area Recovery Network is holding a Valentine’s Dance at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the BARN, 142 Center St. Brewer. For more info, call 561-9444. 

PRCC: Love is in the air this Valentine's Day, pizza too. Cocaine Anonymous (CA) invites you to get in the spirit and feel the love of our fellowship at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at 102 Bishop St. in Portland. Stick around after the meeting to grab a slice! For more info, call 553-2575.
 
Your Place Inc. is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special event, “Feel the Love,” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11 at 4 Old Mill Rd. in Ellsworth. There will be games, sweets, and music. For more info, call 412-2238.


  • The Pathfinder’s Club for Teens is holding a Valentine's Day Dance Party from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 11 at Save a Life Recovery Resource Center, VFW Street, Lincoln, ME. For more info, call 403-9100.

  • BARN: Health Equity Alliance will offer HIV/HEP rapid testing 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at 142 Center St. Brewer. For more info, call 561-9444. 

  • Lake Region Recovery Center: Come visit LRRC staff at Bridgton's Winter Carnival, where they will hand out information about services, treatment options, and provide NARCAN training, etc. For more info, call 803-8707.

  • Save a Life Recovery Resource Center: Maine General will provide free Hep C and HIV screenings along with harm reduction and hygiene supplies from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 16 at 19 VFW Street in Lincoln. For more info, call 403-9100.

Town & Country FCU: Tips to Boost Your Credit Score.

Town and Country Federal Credit Union is offering easy tips for people in recovery to get their finances in order and start building good credit.
 
Good credit and a strong credit score can influence many financial decisions such as making a big purchase or borrowing money from a financial institution. Your credit score also matters when you want to rent an apartment, get a cell phone, apply for insurance, or even find a job. 
 
So, if you’re looking to establish credit, repair damaged credit, or improve your credit, here are some things you can do to boost your score. 

  1. Pay bills on time. Payment history is the most important part of your credit score.  
  2. Pay down debt. Set up a plan to pay down balances on high interest credit cards first.  
  3. Monitor your credit score. The higher your credit score the lower the cost to borrow money.  
  4. Limit new credit cards and loan applications. Applying for a credit card or new car loan is considered a “hard pull” and can lower your credit score.  
  5. Create a budget. A budget will help you track your income and expenses to see where your money is going and provide the information you need to determine how much you afford each month. 
  6. Establish regular savings. Develop a savings habit by regularly setting money aside. Even if it is just $10 a week, your balance will grow.  

For more information about improving your credit or other financial questions, call 1-800-649-3495 or send an email to info@tcfcu.com. 
 
Coaching Corner
PRCC is hosting a virtual class Ethical Considerations for Recovery Coaches from Feb. 15 to 19, 2023. 

The class is full, but PRCC recently released a new class schedule from April through June.

The new classes are posted here, PRCC trainings/recovery coach trainings.




The HILLS Recovery Center

It's official! The Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative (WMARI) has named its new recovery center in Norway, The HILLS Recovery Center.
The HILLS, which stands for Help, Intervention, Learning, Living, and Serenity, will be staffed and open for limited hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays starting February 13.
The center is still looking for donations such as a large bulletin board, trash cans, a coffee maker, and microwave, etc.
To help with a donation or support, check out their Facebook page, WMARI.
Building Recovery Community Throughout Maine

This newsletter allows us to connect with you, our Maine recovery community. Whether you're a person in recovery, family member, or ally, you are part of the solution to addiction. Published on a regular basis and sent via email, this newsletter provides updates and gives you an opportunity to help support recovery and spread the message of hope throughout the state of Maine. To learn more about PRCC, whose programs are funded in part by the Maine Department of Health & Human Services, visit our website. Please send any feedback or information you'd like us to include to newsletter@portlandrecovery.org.
PORTLAND RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER portlandrecovery.org