Dear Editor:

If ever our community wanted to demonstrate its commitment to address the drug addiction epidemic in our neighborhoods, the public support for the purchase of 63 Washington Street in Camden made it very clear:  Our community supports recovery big time!!!

More than 400 individual donors responded to a plea for help for the Mid-Coast Recovery Coalition (MCRC) to raise $160,000 in only 30 days to save this historic building to become a women’s recovery home.  The outpouring of support, in addition to the donations, was overwhelmingly positive. The news that “We did it!” was met with tremendous jubilation.

In the days that followed, many people offered to volunteer their time and others pledged ongoing financial support to ensure the women’s recovery house is a huge success.

MCRC is already well on its way to developing plans and securing more funding to assure the house is well run and that the women residents, some living there with their children, can live in an environment in which their recovery can thrive.

MCRC still needs your help.  Only with the ongoing support of our community will this house succeed.  We will need volunteers, in-kind services and further financial support. At the same time, MCRC is also applying to federal, state and local government sources as well as charitable foundation grants.  

If you would like to donate further to sustain the success of 63 Washington Street, please send donations to MCRC, 411 Main Street, Suite 205, Rockland, Maine 04841.  You may also visit www.midcoastrecovery.org and donate with a credit card.  

Finally, if you wish to learn more about the house and how you can support its mission, please consider attending a community meeting at the Chestnut Street Baptist Church on 29 Chestnut Street in Camden on Thursday, January 24, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM.  There is no need to RSVP. For any questions, please call 207-701-1182.

Thank you, 

Ira Mandel, MD, MPH

President, Mid-Coast Recovery Coalition