Mental Health Association volunteers Rod Dorchak, left, and Pete Carcione mounted two large directional signs to make finding the Jamestown recovery center easier. Volunteer Diana Bloom’s gardening efforts are bringing cheer to the outdoor area, including the Serenity Garden by the Chadakoin River at the rear of the Gateway Center building.

Mental Health Association volunteers have recently undertaken projects to make the Jamestown recovery center easier to locate as well as more attractive.

IT Manager Joseph Vaughn designed and Finance Manager Jill Marsh ordered two large directional signs for the Gateway Center at 31 Water St., also home to St. Susan Center, Community Helping Hands, and other organizations. Volunteers Pete Carcione and Rod Dorchak took responsibility for mounting them on the south and west sides of the building.

With help from fellow volunteer Christine Redding, Diana Bloom has flower pots in bloom along the entry wall to the MHA. She also planted and maintains the space behind the building by the Chadakoin River that she’s named the Serenity Garden.

At June’s recovery luncheon, Michael Nordin, MHA executive director, had certificates for five participants who have secured employment at local manufacturers, businesses and service organizations. Two additional participants received certificates for the length of their sobriety, one for seven years and one for 40 years.

Members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church prepared and served a goulash lunch. Sandra Kearney gave a blessing before the meal and was assisted in serving by Sandy Harle and Kate Harrison.

All are welcome to the recovery luncheons at 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month. July will feature a barbeque. Like all MHA services, the luncheons are free.

MHA staffers Blain “Buddy” Carlson, Justin Jiminez, and Dianne Valvo participated in Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant’s recent Wellness Fair.

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. All MHA services, including Narcan, xylazine wound care kits and fentanyl test kits, are free.

The Jamestown recovery center is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hours for the North County recovery center at Grace Lutheran Church, 601 Eagle St., Dunkirk, are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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 in Dunkirk and Jamestown is at MHAChautauqua.org/groups.