BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tuesday afternoon, some of our Western New York neighbors were able to capture the Thanksgiving spirit a bit early.
"There's just so much to be grateful for, and the great thing about now, we get to create our own family, you know, if you don't have anybody, we're here for you," said Mona Lisa McEachin, BestSelf Recovery Community Assistant Program Director.
When you walk through the doors of BestSelf's Recovery Community, you're in a space where everyone's equal.
"They take that brave step to come through this door, then they find out that they are in a place where they are protected, treated with dignity and respect, and looked at as human beings, not a diagnosis. And they love it. We love it because we get to see a person grow," said Charles Lloyd, BestSelf Recovery Community Program Director.
Charles Lloyd has been the program director of the Recovery Community for almost a year. He came up with the idea to host Thanksgiving dinner.
"To see people have a good time, and to help those who normally or would not be able to come together with a group of people and have a sit-down dinner around Thanksgiving," said Charles Lloyd.
"We know some of them are less fortunate, they don't know where they're going to get a bite to eat tonight, and just to be able to relieve that barrier, come together, and do it out of love, serving out of love, and just being with the people that we are with daily, and you know, we've got some visitors that we've never seen, but glad they're here, too, just to join us. It's just a privilege," said Mona Lisa McEachin.
They are also peer advocates and know that they can be part of a life-changing interaction.
"That's exactly what I hope to be. I hope that that's what God would do. Use me to be that interaction to change somebody's life. Somebody did it for me. And that's what we do, we do it for each other," said Mona Lisa McEachin.
The Recovery Center is at 69 Linwood Avenue in Buffalo. It is open seven days a week and you do not need a referral or insurance to go.