Every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, people from across Muncie gather in a small room with several tables and a kitchen.  This simple room has a big purpose – it’s the Recovery Cafe.  As IPR’s Emily Guffey reports, the cafe believes recovery is important for everyone.

“Everyone is recovering from something, whether it’s COVID, loneliness, or mental problems.”

That’s Windy Thompson, the Recovery Cafe’s Program Coordinator.

The main program offered at the Charles Street location are recovery circles, in which members can discuss what’s troubling them and get feedback from other members if they so choose.

“Each member that’s in the circle reflects on a challenge they had in the last week and a goal they have for next week.”

The Cafe also plans to offer classes, including Yoga and Line Dancing.  As part of its overall goal, the classes provide a safe place and distraction for those that need it.

“This is totally voluntary; They come because they want to and we make them feel comfortable. We make them feel like family”

Thompson has seen the impact the Cafe has had on its community, and the steady increase in its members.

“We have made a huge impact on the members we have here because they tell a friend. So it’s really grown over the last few weeks.”