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Penticton  

Discovery House receives $50,000 donation to kick off campaign for more addiction recovery beds

Bright lights for those lost

Chelsea Powrie

Penticton's Discovery House has kicked off its annual Shed the Light on Addiction campaign with a major surprise donation from Parker's Chrysler, which will go toward the dream of opening a new addictions recovery residence with eight more beds. 

"I'm stunned and overjoyed about how many people this is going to help," Discovery House executive director Jerome Abraham said Monday. He accepted a cheque for $40,000 from Parker's Chrysler and a further $10,000 personally from owner Janet Parker, far above and beyond the $20,000 he had been expecting. 

The funds are earmarked to purchase a duplex next door to the existing main Discovery House location on Martin Street to offer transitional housing for men in treatment for addictions who are at the point in their recovery where they are working or volunteering in the community. 

"This gets us part of the way there for our down payment, and we're really really close to being able to add eight beds there," Abraham said. 

"As of today our wait list is 48 people and we have two house."

Janet Parker said the donation was a no-brainer for her company, as a longtime supporter of Discovery House. 

"Second-stage housing would be so important. It gives men such a bigger chance of success, and we would like to build an alumni and then they can mentor young and older men in the house. Discovery House does a phenomenal job," Parker said. 

"It's really admirable, I've spent time with them myself when they've been out doing events, and it's just fantastic the effort they put out. It's an organization we really admire, and we stand behind it," Jim Tabler, GM of Parker's Chrysler, said. 

The addiction recovery house will hold a virtual light-up ceremony Dec. 19 with as many bulbs as the community can donate at $10 per bulb or a strand for $250. The lights represent hope for recovery, and the memory of those lost.

"This year has just been a horrendous year with overdoses. I think we've lost nine people I can think of that were alumni of Discovery House," Abraham said. 

"So this really shows how important having this after care and continuing care and lifetime access to care is. Because the illness of addiction is really a lifetime illness."

Bulbs can be purchased here and donations above $20 will receive a tax receipt. The light-up festivities will be broadcast on Facebook Live to ensure COVID-19 safety.



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