My name is Niki Fontaine. I'm 32 years old and I'm a person in recovery. Today I've been blessed to become the program manager at River to Recovery, which is located at 140 Ace St. in Fall River. River to Recovery is the first and the only recovery center in our area. It holds daily and nightly Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and a variety of other recovery based meetings, such as The Bible's Answer to Addiction. Also, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Al-Anon, and Nar-Anon meetings are being formulated now.

My name is Niki Fontaine. I’m 32 years old and I’m a person in recovery. Today I’ve been blessed to become the program manager at River to Recovery, which is located at 140 Ace St. in Fall River. River to Recovery is the first and the only recovery center in our area. It holds daily and nightly Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and a variety of other recovery based meetings, such as The Bible’s Answer to Addiction. Also, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Al-Anon, and Nar-Anon meetings are being formulated now.

River to Recovery offers a fun, safe and sober environment for all who seek another day drug- and alcohol-free to attend various events such as speaker jams, dances, anniversaries, movie and game nights, and much more.

Anyone with a desire to stop using is welcome to come and enjoy all that the facility has to offer. Indoors, there are pool tables, air hockey, foosball, darts, board games, and large flat screen TVs. We have a full kitchen and snack bar and even serve full meals on occasion.

There are multiple couches, loveseats and even a massage chair to make people feel as comfortable and stress free as possible. Outside, we have a basketball hoop, a grill, and a picnic table area. Most importantly, from open to close, there is always someone here who’s willing to help a newcomer and old-timer alike.

The fellowships teach us, “Alone I can’t, but together we can,” and I believe in this wholeheartedly! I believe in River to Recovery just the same because it helped to save my life and the lives of countless other struggling with substance use disorder in just the short time since it has been open. Just over 3 years ago, I was homeless, sitting in my 16th detox, healing from a major motor vehicle accident that had broken almost every bone from my neck down. After over a decade of fighting and losing to this disease I assumed that I would eventually succumb to an overdose. Instead, I met the founder of River to Recovery, a man with 32 years in recovery, named Kevin Doyle. He is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who cares deeply for those who are still sick and suffering from this terrible disease, as do I and the many others involved with River to Recovery.

We’re currently working to get funding through the state, grants, and/or private donors. However, for most of the first year Kevin paid out of pocket to keep River to Recovery open. Now, through various fundraisers and collections, it’s begun sustaining itself. We recently formed a board of directors, comprising influential and prominent members of the city, all with a passion to save lives and bring about change, and more than half of whom are in long-term recovery themselves.

We have begun developing the program outline for a funded River to Recovery which includes, but is not limited to, keeping the building open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, holding various support and treatment groups for those seeking to engage in and maintain treatment and recovery, as well as their families because we know and understand that loved ones suffer right alongside those in active use.

It’s critical that we heal together as well. River to Recovery also offers, PTSD groups, for individuals in medication assisted treatment, and much more. Programs such as career training, life skills, transition support for those recently incarcerated, and others that support individuals in recovery to reengage in their community in positive ways.

“Our mission is to increase the amount of individuals staying engaged in recovery, with the hope of reducing relapse and overdoses.” We at River to Recovery are not affiliated with any single or specific method of treatment, rather we believe in, and facilitate, a broad spectrum of treatment based options, understanding that there are many viable and successful ways for those suffering from a substance use disorder to engage in treatment and maintain recovery over the course of their life.

If you or someone you know would like to attend, or are in need of support and ready for a new way of life, please call 774-305-0155 or come to the morning NA meeting Monday to Saturday at 9 a.m. If you would like to donate to, or support River to Recovery in any way, please call 508-567-8727.

Niki Fontaine is the program manager of River to Recovery and a member of the BOLD Coalition.