At the September Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County luncheon, Activities Director Diane Valvo and participant Mike Norberg displayed some of the knitting and crafts produced by the Thursday morning knitting group. Donations of yarn are appreciated to make baby items for Strong Starts Chautauqua and scarves for warming center participants. Plans for the Friday, Sept. 29, Dunkirk Art in Recovery Show were announced.

The dictionary says a milestone is “an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development.”

The Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County (MHA) holds a monthly luncheon to celebrate the milestones of participants, recognizing that in a strong recovery community everyone can progress together.

At the September luncheon, Jessica Crooks, MHA Strong Starts navigator, Ken Kendall, Dunkirk floor manager, Sienna Swanson, peer specialist, and Diane Valvo, activities director, joined Steven Cobb, MHA executive director, to present certificates to participants for milestones ranging from up to two years of sobriety to getting new apartments, regaining custody of their child, and volunteering at the MHA.

Valvo recognized and thanked two participants in the Thursday morning Knitting for Well Being group for the many items they have crafted to share with others. These include baby items for Strong Starts Chautauqua and scarves for folks who will soon be seeking shelter at MHA’s warming center as the weather changes.

Mike Norberg was happy to give one of his many scarves to a fellow participant at the luncheon. Norberg shared that after a life-changing event, coming to the MHA and joining the knitting class helped him decrease his smoking by 75%, relieve his stress, and enable him to give back to a community that has given so much to him.

To support the knitting group, Valvo welcomes donations of any amount of yarn as well as big buttons for decorations.

Following August’s Art in Recovery exhibit at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown, Cobb invited those attending to the Friday, Sept. 29, North County MHA Art in Recovery Group annual show. He promised light refreshments, good fellowship and lots of art on the last work day of National Recovery Month. The event will be 6 to 8 p.m. at MHA’s north county recovery center in Grace Lutheran Church, 601 Eagle St., Dunkirk.

Cobb reminded everyone that those who engage with medical recovery are much less likely to die of an overdose. Participants can connect with a provider at the MAR (Medication Assisted Recovery) 4 U group every Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. Transportation is available and dinner is provided afterward.

The number of individuals in the county experiencing fatal overdoses is stabilizing or going down, indicating the use of Narcan is working. Roughly 40% of patients have already had Narcan administered by the time emergency medical services arrive. Everyone is encouraged to carry Narcan, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. A staff member cited a person who saved the life of someone they saw on the street on their way home from receiving Narcan training.

Fentanyl test strips are also available.

Bryan Boleratz of Goodskills Career Builder announced their next class begins October 2 at Jamestown Community College. After four weeks of free training, participants receive $500 and are prepared for higher paying careers in advanced manufacturing.

The luncheon was prepared and served by members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown: Linda McCallum, Sandy and Brian Kearney, and Father Luke Fodor, who also offered the blessing.

All MHA programs and services are free.

The Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County commits to radical acceptance, empowerment, and advocacy for our community members who struggle with mental health and substance use.

The MHA is a peer recovery center offering support groups and individual coaching for people looking to improve their lives, deepen wellness, thrive in recovery, or support those on a recovery path. Peers use their personal stories to help people find recovery in their own lives in their own way.

Anyone with questions or in need of services for themselves or a family member suffering from a mental health or substance use disorder is welcome to call or stop in at the Jamestown recovery center at Door 14 in the rear of the Gateway Center, 31 Water St. It is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Hours for the north county recovery center at Grace Lutheran Church, 601 Eagle St., Dunkirk, are 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

To learn more about the Mental Health Association, call 716-661-9044 or visit MHAChautauqua.org or facebook.com/MHAChautauqua. A schedule with descriptions of MHA’s dozens of groups and classes is at MHAchautauqua.org/groups.