Empower House to hold first annual Walk For Recover in Pine City

Empower House will hold the first annual Walk For Recovery in Pine City on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Jack Frechette, a certified peer recovery specialist with Empower Recovery Services, explained that a walk for visibility will take participants from Robinson Park to the Pine Technical and Community College campus, before heading north to the Pine County Fairgrounds.

"The walk downtown is for visibility, just to show folks that people are marching for recovery, and once we get to the fairgrounds, it's a celebration for recovery, as well as a place for people to access resources they might need in the recovery field," Frechette said.

Assembly and registration will start at 9 a.m. in Robinson Park, with the walk beginning at 10 a.m. Festivities at the fairgrounds — including live music and speakers — will go from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Frechette said he's been encouraged by how many organizations in the Pine City area have supported the walk.

"People have been eager to sign up teams to walk in honor of somebody in their family who has experience in recovery or experience with substance use disorder," he said.

Frechette said participants can sign up on the day of the walk, but registering early will help organizers get a head count for the event.

"This is a totally free event," Frechette explained. "It is free to walk."

Registration is available at empowersoberliving.org.

Organizers hope the inaugural walk becomes a community staple.

"We really want to put a visible event on the map to say that there are people who are working hard to address these challenges, who are committed to changing the story about drug use in Pine County, and to tell some inspiring stories about hope and recovery," Frechette said.

Raising funds for the Empower Recovery Cafe

Frechette said all proceeds raised by the walk will go directly to the upcoming recovery cafe in downtown Pine City.

"Empower Recovery Services has just signed a lease right in downtown Pine City, on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 61," he added.

It's situated right next to one of Empower's treatment buildings, and is both an accessible and visible location.

Frechette described the project as a "safe, sober place" for people in recovery to gather, relax, and get resources.

"If a person has really specific needs, like they need to apply for a job or need help accessing benefits, myself or someone also in my role will be there to help that person get the logistical assistance that they need," Frechette said.

But the cafe will also double as a comfortable place to spend time for people in recovery to spend their time.

"This is going to be the kind of place that you don't need an appointment to show up," Frechette said.

Frechette also said the space will require a fair bit of renovation — flooring work is still to come — but painting has been completed.

"Our hope is to have it open early this fall," he said.