On Sept. 23, we held an open house. Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) opened it... People Find A Common Groun

On Sept. 23, we held an open house. Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) opened its second recovery community center in Connecticut.

It was more than an open house. It is the beginning of people and communities coming together. It is the beginning of relationships that will nurture and support persons in recovery, their families and friends.

That afternoon we crossed every socio-economic line, private and public-sector line, Republican and Democratic line. We came together as people who care and understand that the disease of addiction affects all in some way. It does not discriminate. We can no longer pretend it doesn't exist. People need help. We challenged society's perception of addiction and alcoholism, demonstrated the healing power of recovery and offered hope.

The Seaport of Recovery, a recovery center where all are welcome, is where we will educate, inform and support. It is a place to find hope and encouragement to stay in recovery.

I am grateful I made it into recovery. I am honored to work with CCAR, an organization formed by and run by recovering persons. I am humbled that the addiction I once silently suffered with is the catalyst that is helping me serve people and share my story of deliverance one day at a time — giving back what was so freely given to me. I challenge those whose disease has been arrested for some years, won't you give back?

I salute Judy Benson for a remarkable article capturing what CCAR and the recovery community are about. ("State's second recovery center offers hope to struggling addicts," Sept. 24.) I appreciate The Day for its unbiased reporting and effort to deliver the facts while letting readers determine the rest.

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