Recovery Café opens to help people struggling with addiction

More than 3 million young Americans between the ages of 12 and 25 suffer from drug addiction. Drug addiction is an issue that affects everyone, even here at home. In Pierce County, from 2012 to 2017, the number of opioid-related deaths rose to 423. The Orting Valley, which includes Sumner, Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Buckley, and Eatonville, has witnessed an acute problem of addiction for a long time, but in 2017, after a series of fatal overdoses, the community realized it was time for change.

After a year of planning and preparation, recovery is coming to communities in East Pierce County. The Recovery Café Orting Valley will provide residents with hope and healing to support their journey in recovering from drug addiction. Pierce County, along with many other friends and partners in the community, have come together to make this shared vision come to life.

The grand opening will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 17 at the Recovery Café Orting Valley, 113 Varner Avenue SE., in Orting.

The event will kick off with speakers whose support has been key to this project, including Pierce County Councilmember Derek Young, Pierce County Human Services Director Peter Ansara, District Superintendent United Methodist Church Reverend Kathleen Weber, and Killian Noe, the Founder of Recovery Café. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be followed by an open house tour of the facility. Guests will be treated to refreshments and snacks.

“Recovery Café is a proven foundation for peer support and recovery,” said Dennis Paschke, Executive Director, Recover Café Orting Valley. “This necessary resource in the Orting Valley will save lives and families from the devastation of addiction. Recovery Cafés in other areas have been extremely successful in helping their members on their journey to long-term recovery.”

Recovery Café Seattle reported in its last annual report that over 90% of their members reported the café helped them maintain their recovery.

                       – Recovery Café Pierce County