The newly formed Jamestown Community Chapel Recovery Outreach group. The first official meeting, focused on helping people fight addiction based on faith, will be Thursday the 12th. P-J photo by Carly Gould

“This is about recovery, not personal beliefs.”

That is what Pastor Doug Penhollow had to say about the new Recovery Outreach Program.

The program, created by members of the Jamestown Community Chapel, is a support program dedicated to helping people recover from addiction, and had an opening ceremony Thursday. Meetings for the new group will be held Thursdays, starting at 6 p.m. Sept. 12. All future meetings will be held at the Jamestown Community Chapel, located on 35 Camp St.

The program was created to help anyone battling with addiction and provide support and comfort for those who have loved ones who are struggling. Though the group is founded on Christian values and principles, Penhollow said that everyone is welcome to attend.

“This program is about giving people hope,” said Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone. “Hope that they can recover from addiction and live drug free.”

The first dedication ceremony started with Penhollow singing the song he said will become the program’s theme, “Chain Breaker” by Zac Williams. Following an opening prayer, Diane Start, Cindy Penhollow and Sherry Tveter spoke about the program and how they helped in creating the new program.

“I grew up around alcohol abuse,” Tveter said. “As an adult, I was an alcoholic as well. With the help of a good program, I’ve been alcohol-free for 20 years. Over the years, I’ve seen the toll that substance-abuse takes on individuals and their families.”

Several more speakers, including Assemblyman Andy Goodell and Quattrone, shared stories and experiences with addiction and substance-abuse.

“Everyone in this room knows someone who is struggling from addiction,” Goodell said. “Even if you don’t know they are.”

Quattrone described the different ways people struggle with addiction. He said some are very open about their addiction, while others struggle silently.

“The thing they all have in common,” Quattrone said, “is that they need hope. Those who do not have hope tend to fail in their recovery.”

The ceremony included the reading of “The Serenity Prayer,” everyone singing “Chain Breaker” and ended with a prayer of dedication by Pastor William Clark, who was invited by Pastor Penhollow.

“We don’t want people to think they’re not allowed because of their beliefs,” Penhollow said. “Everyone is welcome. Anyone who needs help will not be turned away.”