The Springfield Recovery Community Center: Hope Starts Here

I have not been writing on here as I should, but that will hopefully be changing soon. I have been extremely busy recently and my writing has not been going as it needs to be. I am dedicated from this day forward to putting out at least one blog a month, on the first Friday of every month. I may on occasion write more than that, but right now I have a ton on my plate. 

Today, though, I have some major news. On May 1st Better Life in Recovery, in partnership with New Beginnings Sanctuary and a non-profit I am not yet at liberty to reveal will be opening up a 3000 square foot Recovery Community Center (RCC), located behind the neighborhood Wal-Mart on South Glenstone. We will be in the strip mall located at 1925 East Bennett. We will start with limited hours.

If you are wondering what a recovery community center is, I have an easy answer; a large slice of hope topped with an enormous scoop of support and a healthy side of education. It is one roof that houses most of the things you need for recovery with the ability to guide you to what we don't have. How will we be able to do that? 

We will have an onsite MRSS-P (Missouri Recovery Support Specialist-Peer) armed with skills to guide someone to a healthier place and answer a concerned loved one's questions. What is an MRSS-P? They are hope dealers, recovery coaches and resource brokers all rolled into one package! 

We are currently getting groups together to support those who come to the RCC. We want 40-50 groups a week, addressing all areas of life. We already have people who will be doing various groups: an adolescent and an adult Smart Recovery, Art Therapy, Zumba, 11^th Step Yoga, Jujitsu, Procovery, Alcholic’s Anonymous and Heroin Anonymous.

We are looking for people to help bring in more groups to support those who live with substance use and mental illness as well as groups for their friends and families: AA, NA, CoDA, Naranon, Alanon, Family Anonymous, etc.


We are talking to other organizations and individuals about providing more groups that support living positive lives: housing, employment, healthy eating, Music Therapy, Meditation, Living with Anxiety, Dealing with Depression, Grief Recovery, Alpha, Discipleship, etc. 

If you are interested in bringing a group in, spots are filling up and they are available on a first come first served basis. The main room is 25 x 15 (375 square feet) and the rent will only be $10 a meeting, and the center will provide the beverages (coffee, creamer, sugar, etc.) There will also be a second room that will be bigger we can enclose if it is needed. 


We are working on funding for all the things we want to have available for people who drop by: a kitchen equipped with coffee, hot tea, iced tea  and water as well as vending machines with snacks and drinks to purchase. We have a pool table donated and will be purchasing an electronic dart board so we can have a pool and dart league; SOBER STYLE!!!!  

We will be bringing all of the Better Life in Recovery events currently going on there as well: game night, karaoke, movie night and a whole lot more. This way all of our services and things to do can be held under one roof. We will also start having monthly member meetings so that you can let us know what services you not only need, but the services you want. 

All of that said, we need your help. We have a ton of needs and here is a partial list: 
couches, comfortable chairs, book cases, books and magazines big screen televisions, pool table, electric dart boards, pool cues, gaming systems, computers, printer, pub tables, stools, folding chairs, 8 foot rectangular and round folding tables, yoga mats, cubicles, desks, DVD player, file cabinet, vending machines, refrigerator, stove/oven and more that we need.

We also need groups and leaders for those groups. If you have an idea for a group and want to try it out at the RCC, please run it by us. We also need volunteers to help us plan and put on the events we already have in place as well as new ones that we will be doing. We need volunteers to man phones and be the point person at the RCC as well. Finally, please spread the word about the RCC and send all of the prayers and positive thoughts our way you can!

By opening up Springfield's first RCC, we will encourage and support recovery better than ever. We will not only make recovery more likely to last, but we will use this as a platform to advocate the power of recovery and the fact that treatment is effective. We will reduce the stigma those who live with substance use and mental health issues face with everything we do! 

Hope to see you all in May at the center, and to hear from you before then as you bring us groups and support our mission! In May we will be able to see this , "We are the Springfield Recovery Community Center, and HOPE STARTS HERE!"