New community center ‘The Gathering Place’ officially opens its doors

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE) - ‘The Gathering Place’ officially opened it’s doors Wednesday.

It’s a newly renovated facility in Owensboro, created by RiverValley Behavioral Health, meant to be a safe haven for people in recovery. It’s set up as a cafe-style resource.

Dr. Deborah Bradford, Vice President of Outpatient Services at RiverValley, said, “It’s a gathering place for social interaction, to meet with other people in recovery”

She says it’s a resource for those choosing to make a change.

“The people in recovery have a hard time. They’ve lost a lot of connections with family and friends,” said Dr. Bradford.

The hope is that people in recovery can come to the gathering place to find resources to help make those changes.

“They have literature here regarding recovery. We have IT services so they can connect online to find jobs and housing,” said Dr. Bradford, “and then we can send them in different directions for what it is that they need if it’s not offered here.”

People in recovery are able to come here any time to use the resources, but also have a safe place to stay during the day, to relax and also meet others in recovery.

The idea is that this type of environment will encourage people to stay in recovery.

“We’re hoping people come here spend the day here, come to meetings here. They utilize it as a safe harbor,” said Dr. Bradford.

Starting Thursday, Sept. 28, ‘The Gathering Place’ will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

It’s located at 400 East Fourth Street in downtown Owensboro.

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