BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – For those in recovery from addiction, the holidays can be a difficult time. The Turning Point Center of Chittenden County hopes to make this Christmas a little easier by providing a warm meal and comfort for people recovering from substance use disorder.
“They were a vital part of my early recovery and still are today. It was just a safe space to meet people that were sober and also in recovery,” said Jeremy Potvin. He found Turning Point while in the hospital. During rehab, he became a regular at the center, then a volunteer, and now he works there. He says for him, community was crucial.
“I couldn’t just sit home and isolate during early recovery, I had to be with like-minded people, and this was the place I found to do that,” Potvin said.
Now, as he helps out over the holidays, he knows the importance of having people around during these often trying times, saying “it’s just a nice place to kind of not have the stress of holidays.”
Christie Holmes with the Turning Point Center says on a day like Christmas, food, games, and conversation, as well as access to resources, are essential to their mission. “There are so many people who don’t have a safe place to go on the holidays, and Christmas is especially hard. There’s a lot of alcohol and triggers out there. When people come here, they can feel safe.”
She says the work they do at the Turning Point Center is critical to tackling Vermont’s drug crisis. “When we have individuals here in the center, they’re not out on the streets doing things, negative things, or things that might hurt themselves in terms of alcohol and drug use. They’re here, they’re sober. They’re getting help, they’re talking about recovery.”