Peer Recovery Center

Program Overview

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Nourishing Neighbors operates a community-based recovery and support space designed to help individuals and families rebuild connection, confidence, purpose, and stability.
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The Nourishing Neighbors Peer Recovery Center provides a welcoming, peer-led environment for people impacted by:

• Mental health challenges
• Substance use recovery
• Alcohol recovery
• Incarceration and reentry
• Caregiver stress
• Poverty
• Trauma
• Social isolation

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The center is grounded in the belief that recovery is strengthened when people have access to community, meaningful activity, practical support, and relationships with others who understand lived experience. Our goal is to help participants become the best version of themselves through connection, service, wellness, creativity, and peer support.

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Existing Community Space

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The center utilizes Nourishing Neighbors' existing community space, which includes:

• Books and educational resources
• Community clothing store
• Kitchen equipment
• Televisions
• Laptops
• Lounge chairs and couches
• Comfortable gathering spaces for informal conversations and group activities

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The space is intentionally welcoming, non-clinical, and community-centered. Rather than feeling like an office or institution, participants enter an environment that resembles a supportive neighborhood gathering place. This atmosphere helps reduce stigma and encourages individuals to engage at their own pace.

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Peer-Led Approach

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The program is built around peer leadership through the involvement of individuals with lived experience in:

• Program planning
• Activity facilitation
• Participant engagement
• Ongoing program feedback

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Lived experience may include:

• Mental health recovery
• Substance use recovery
• Alcohol recovery
• Incarceration and reentry
• Caregiving
• Grief
• Trauma
• Poverty
• Family disruption

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Nourishing Neighbors recognizes that people who have navigated recovery or personal hardship bring valuable wisdom, understanding, and credibility. Their experiences help shape the center's activities, culture, and priorities.
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Peer leadership is encouraged through participant feedback, volunteer opportunities, activity support, and pathways that allow participants to gradually assume leadership roles within the center.

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Participant Voice & Decision-Making
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The Peer Recovery Center follows a participant-informed approach.
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Individuals are encouraged to share ideas about:

• Activities and programming
• Community needs
• Barriers to participation
• Ways to make the center more welcoming

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Feedback is gathered through:

• Informal conversations
• Brief participant surveys
• Suggestion forms
• Peer discussions

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Nourishing Neighbors uses this input to continuously improve programming and ensure the center remains responsive to the needs of the local recovery community.

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Core Services & Activities

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The center offers practical, meaningful, and low-barrier activities that encourage recovery, personal growth, and community connection.

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Programs include:

• Peer-led recovery conversations
• Wellness check-ins
• Creative arts activities
• Music programs
• Games and recreational activities
• Educational webinars
• Movement and dance exercise
• Caregiver support discussions
• Community meals
• Clothing assistance
• Holiday celebrations
• Recovery-focused gatherings

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Participants are welcome to engage in whatever best supports their journey, whether that means attending a group discussion, watching an educational webinar, participating in creative activities, sharing a meal, organizing clothing donations, or simply spending time in a safe, supportive environment.

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Clothing Store Volunteer Pathway

The community clothing store serves as an important component of the peer recovery model.

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Participants have opportunities to:

• Sort donated clothing
• Organize inventory
• Hang and prepare clothing for distribution
• Assist with community giveaways
• Support clothing distribution events

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These volunteer opportunities provide a natural pathway for participants to transition from receiving support to giving back, helping build confidence, responsibility, job-readiness skills, and a stronger sense of purpose while serving the community.