Submit a Testimonial

I was invited to a women’s pajama holiday party at the Bridge Recovery Center in early
December by a friend of mine in recovery. I had arrived early because my friend but to my
surprise there was no need to be nervous because as soon as I walked through the door as I
was signing in I was welcomed by someone with a huge smile saying “welcome to the Bridge”.
At that moment the presence surrounding the center felt like the entire center wrapped me in
their arms and gave me a nice warm comforting hug. The staff and peers were so nice to me.
They welcomed me with open arms and talked to me like they knew me forever. I was so
comfortable I thought to myself I had finally found my people. I was excited to fill out a
membership form and I was eager to come back because of all the amazing groups and events
I saw on their website. I knew I wanted to be a part of this center, so I asked if they were looking
for volunteers. I was nicely asked if I could come back to volunteer the very next day. I was so
excited. Since December these staff members have become people I call friends. They have
coached me into putting my recovery in power drive in the right direction. I have been able to
utilize this safe space to come and try things I thought I would never be able to do. I started
attending yoga, something from my past that I forgot that I enjoyed doing but because of the
instructors being so patient with me it’s something I am making a regular part of my schedule.
Art therapy has been a way for me to put my creative side in my recovery and try projects I
didn’t know I had the capability of doing. The jam sessions and karaoke took me out of my
comfort zone. I shared some great laughs with friends. When I went home my cheeks still hurt
from smiling. Visiting other PRSCs is something I never miss. It is a great way to see what other
centers have to offer and because I come with the Bridge I am recognized as part of the Bridge
family as a volunteer-something I am honored to be a part of. My favorite part of the BRC is the
All Recovery meetings because their motto is we don’t care what got you to recovery as long as
you are in recovery, we support you. That is the same reason I come to the Bridge Recovery
Center- they stand by their code of conduct and principles. I am forever grateful for what the
Bridge Recovery Center has done for me in my recovery journey and I now understand why
they say that the opposite of addiction is connection. I am connected to my recovery at the
Bridge Recovery Center. Thank you to the Bridge. I love you guys!

“The Bridge Recovery Center”
I would like to start off by saying the Bridge means the world to me. Not only does
this place feel like a second home, but the people within it have become like a
second family as well. It is filled with people from every background and walk of
life you can imagine. When I first came to Malden it was start my journey at
EMAS-a halfway house-which was not even five minutes down the road from the
Bridge. Just by chance a housemate of mine invited me to attend a meeting at the
Bridge. Not knowing what to expect, I happily accepted and was just excited to get
out of the house…not knowing my life was about to change forever. The minute I
walked into the Bridge I was greeted by Paul Hammersley-the president of Malden
Overcoming Addiction, and sponsor of the Bridge. It was like he’d been expecting
me as he pulled me into his embrace. I immediately knew this was where I was
supposed to be. I began to donate my time to many of the outreach and volunteer
programs the Bridge does for the city of Malden, which gave me the opportunity to
meet some of the amazing people that make this place what it is; people like PJ Bell
and Jess Lanneville for example. They have made it their life’s work not just to
help people get off the street, but to rebuild their lives and if nothing else, let people
know that they are not alone in this fight. Without these people the Bridge is just
another building in Malden. I will be forever grateful for the love and support I
received and still receive from this amazing place and the people that hold it to the
highest standard.

My name is Andrew and for the last 5 months I've been coming here to The Bridge Recovery
Center. When I first came here, I only had a month of sobriety and had just finished a PHP. The
support I had at the PHP was ending and I was terrified about the future. The first day! came
here I met the assistant program director and was lucky enough to meet someone who I hadn't
seen in 10 years. The overwhelming love and support I received made me feel extremely
welcomed. Since then, I have flourished in this supportive environment. I became a peer leader
and have been able to build skills that have helped me with my recovery. A long the way I've
also been able to help others through the same support that I
was shown to me. The love and kindness that is shown here daily has been so crucial to me in not only
my progress but the progress many others have made. I truly don't know where I would
be today if not the Bridge Recovery Center. I'm immensely grateful that a place like this exist
and the good day that it does daily is irreplaceable.