Malden Cares Kick-Off event with support from Sen. Markey

Special to The Advocate

  US Senator Edward Markey (D-Malden) was on hand at the Malden Center MBTA station last week for the “Malden Cares” kickoff.  During his visit, the senator pledged his continued support for funding and programs which address the needs of our most vulnerable residents.

  Malden Cares is a grant funded collaboration between the City of Malden and Malden Overcoming Addiction with the goal of outreach, education and support. Recovery Coaches will be on site at Malden Center every Monday through Friday from 3:30-5:30 PM for the next 12 weeks. There will be a resource table, snacks, water and the Recovery Coaches will be engaging with the public each afternoon.

  The Malden Cares campaign emanated from discussions held at a recent City of Malden Opioid Task Force meeting when the conversation shifted to outreach in the community.   By being a presence at Malden Center, Malden Cares will support residents who struggle with homelessness and substance use disorder. The program will be overseen by Certified Addiction Recovery Coach and Supervisor Donna Aiello along with Addiction Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley.

  All Task Force members were on hand Monday afternoon to kick off the start of the program. City of Malden Opioid Task Force membership includes Mayor Gary Christenson, Police Chief Kevin Molis, Fire Chief William Sullivan, Malden’s Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley, School Committee Member Adam Weldai, City Councilor Barbara Murphy, Data Specialist for the Malden Police David Ritchie, Malden Overcoming Addiction Board Member Dana Brown, and Gerry Whetstone, Pastor of the Nazarene Church of Malden and director of the Malden Warming Center.

  Also in attendance at Monday’s Malden Cares opening were Malden City Council President Neal Anderson, Massachusetts State Senator Jason Lewis and more than a dozen Malden Overcoming Addiction volunteers

  For more information on Malden Cares or Malden Overcoming Addiction please contact Malden’s Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley at 781-838-2203.