Submitted Photo St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown prepared and served the meal for the recent Recovery Luncheon at the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County. The Reverend Luke Fodor, rector of St. Luke’s, was caught on the camera during the preparation.

Recovery luncheons are a monthly occurrence at the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County (MHA).

The MHA is a peer recovery support center offering recovery coaching, peer support services and groups, advocacy, training, and veterans, family, employment and job support. It provides linkages to mental health and substance use treatment, primary care doctors, health and human services, and is available to assist adult individuals in identifying community resources for healthier living.

Celebrating positive milestones has been shown to improve long term recovery. The luncheons are an opportunity to recognize and support progress made by participants in mental health and substance use disorder recovery.

An important part of any luncheon is a good meal.

With the coordination of volunteer Jan Ball, members of four local churches have assumed this responsibility: Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Falconer and First Presbyterian, Kidder Memorial United Methodist and St. Luke’s Episcopal Churches in Jamestown.

Members of St. Luke’s prepared and served the delicious meal for the September Recovery Luncheon.

At that event MHA Executive Director Steven Cobb gave out certificates for participant accomplishments and announced the Recovery Jam and Dance that was held at the MHA on September 27.

Cobb also announced the expansion of MHA services to Northern Chautauqua County with the opening of the program in Grace Lutheran Church, 601 Eagle Street in Dunkirk. Support groups and individual coaching are provided there on Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Anyone with questions or in need of services for themselves or a family member is welcome to call or stop in at the Mental Health Association, Door 14 in the rear of the Gateway Center, 31 Water Street, Jamestown. Hours are Mondays-Wednesdays 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To learn more about the MHA, call (716) 661-9044 or visit MHAChautauqua.org or facebook.com/MHAChautauqua.

To learn more about MHA OPEN (Occupational Peer Empowerment Network) that is focused on workforce development, phone (716) 490-4438, email OPEN@MHAChautauqua.org, or visit MHAChautauqua.org/OPEN.