Beginning Friday, residents of the greater Everett area will have a safe, welcoming space to turn to when seeking to bridge a gap in their recovery and rehabilitation process.
Clinton resident Wendy Grove is the executive director of the Everett Recovery Cafe, a refuge for people who have suffered from homelessness, addiction, mental health challenges or trauma.
The cafe is affiliated with, but financially independent from, the Seattle Recovery Cafe.
According to the Everett Recovery Cafe website, most treatment programs last between 28 days and six months. Afterward, individuals may be wanting of additional support services, as the path to rehabilitation seldom ends with the completion of a standard treatment program.
After leaving a 10-year career in teaching, Grove volunteered at the Seattle Recovery Cafe where she “fell in love with the mission” of acceptance and healing.
The cafe community is based upon relationships, Grove explained. Everyone is welcome.
“Anyone can walk in those doors,” Grove said. “One of their philosophies is that we’re all recovering from something.”
By focusing on individuals’ strengths, the cafe program effectively bolsters confidence and allow members to flourish.
“One of the pivotal philosophies is that everybody is loved and has gifts to share,” she said. “It is very strength-based.”
Classes in subjects such as the arts, spirituality, yoga, book studies, recovery and understanding addiction will be offered. Everyone will work together to produce lunch each day.
Anyone is welcome to visit the cafe as a guest for the day. The only stipulation is that they must be drug and alcohol free for 24 hours prior to entering.
Subsequently, anyone may become a member for free. Members are required to attend an orientation and a mandatory weekly peer support group that is facilitated by cafe staff and trained community members.
A large part of the program is based upon peer support, Grove said. Once individuals have recovered and are stable, they often become mentors for others. Everyone is expected to pitch in, whether by helping with janitorial duties or teaching a class.
Grove noted that they also welcome volunteers.
The Everett Recovery Cafe and Seattle Recovery Cafe are part of the Washington State Recovery Alliance, which contends that community support is integral to a successful recovery. It is the mission of the Washington State Recovery Alliance to see to the establishment of recovery cafes across the state.
“It’s important because we tend to view people on the margins as having chosen to be there,” Grove said. “And actually, there is just a gap in support.”
Much of the time, individuals leave a treatment center and return to the streets, Grove explained. That’s a gap the recovery cafes are looking to fill.
Jackie Henderson, director of Island County Human Services, said that she had not known of either the Seattle or Everett cafes, but noted that her interest is piqued, and that she intends to visit in the near future.
“It sounds wonderful,” Henderson said. “I think one of the biggest challenges people have when they come out of treatment is they need to find places to go where other people in recovery are.”
She explained that it can be quite difficult for people exiting recovery programs to return to the places they had previously frequented. Particularly for those struggling with addiction, past haunts can be triggers for relapse.
Henderson said that it is quite possible that Island County Human Services will refer individuals to the Everett Recovery Cafe if they may benefit from it.
The Everett Recovery Cafe is supported by the community, and is seeking volunteers and donations on an ongoing basis.
Those who wish to donate or volunteer may visit everettrecoverycafe.org.
“I’m really looking forward to opening our doors and meeting people,” Grove said. “I can’t wait.”
The cafe is located at 2212 Broadway Ave. in Everett. It will be open from noon-4 p.m. Monday through Friday with the exception of Monday, March 23, when it will be closed for volunteer training.
