september 2026 newsletter
september is recovery month!
Recovery is possible.
Dear Maine’s Recovery Community,
September is Recovery Month, a time to celebrate the millions of people across the country who are living in recovery and to remind our communities that recovery is real, recovery is possible, and recovery happens every day.
More than 22 million Americans are in recovery from substance use disorder. Recovery is a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and work toward reaching their full potential.
People build recovery through their own strengths, talents, resources, and values. Recovery is deeply personal, and there are many pathways, including treatment, medication, faith, peer and family support, self-care, harm reduction, and other approaches. There is no single path that works for everyone.
At the ME-RAP Access Center, we see the power of hope, community, and connection every day. We see people support one another, overcome barriers, navigate setbacks, and continue moving toward the lives they want for themselves. Recovery is not always linear, but every positive change matters.
This Recovery Month, let us celebrate every person in recovery, honor the many pathways people take, and recommit ourselves to building communities where everyone has the opportunity to heal, grow, and belong.
Happy Recovery Month!
In solidarity,
ME-RAP Access Center Director
P.S. If you would like to support the Access Center this month, we desperately need individually packaged snacks for our participants! Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Access Center, or you can contact an organizer to arrange a pickup. We even created a wish list to make donating easy!
Join Us at Recovery Rallies Across Maine!
September is packed with recovery rallies and celebrations across Maine, bringing people together to celebrate recovery, connection, hope, and the many pathways people take in recovery.
This month, ME-RAP has a goal of helping 100 people register to vote. At events across the state, we’ll be registering voters and sharing new voter education materials designed to make voting information easier to access and understand.
Recovery Month is also a chance to make sure recovery voices are part of the decisions that affect our lives and our communities.
Check out a handful of events happening across Maine to the left! We also put together a Google Calendar of all the events across Maine! Check it out here.
National Voter Registration Day: Sept. 15th
Nothing about us without us. Decisions made at every level shape the places we live, the resources we rely on, and the policies that affect our lives every day. Our neighbors deserve clear information, real access, and a voice in the decisions that impact them.
On National Voter Registration Day, stop by the Access Center anytime from 11 AM–4 PM to register to vote, check your registration status, ask questions, or get help finding the information you need.
You can also visit www.maine.gov/vote to register or check your voter information, and www.tinyurl.com/MEPollingLocations
to find your polling place.
Augusta Recovery Rally: September 19th
Join us for the Augusta Recovery Rally, a community celebration of recovery, connection, and hope! The Augusta Recovery Rally is an opportunity to come together to celebrate people in recovery, honor the many pathways people take to get there, remember those we have lost, and show our community that recovery is possible.
Whether you are in recovery, love someone in recovery, work in the recovery community, or simply want to stand alongside your neighbors, you are welcome. Come connect with local recovery organizations, community resources, friends, families, and neighbors as we celebrate the strength of Augusta’s recovery community. There will be food, bounce houses, music and family friendly fun! Recovery is possible.
This event is a collaboration between Zysk Recovery Partners, ME-RAP, and HFGC Recovery Network. If you would like to table or contribute, please sign up here.
Project Doorstep: 1,000 doors and counting
Our 2026 Project Doorstep campaign kicked off in August, and we’ve already knocked on more than 1,000 doors across Augusta!
Door by door, we’re getting to know our neighbors, sharing information about the Access Center and recovery coaching, and connecting people with resources and support right here in our community. At its heart, Project Doorstep is about showing up, listening, and building stronger connections with the people who call Augusta home.
Youth Caucus: Slip, Slide & Repeat 3.0 Was a SPlash!
Slip, Slide & Repeat 3.0 brought an amazing turnout to Williams Park, with families, friends, and neighbors spending the afternoon cooling off, playing, eating, and making summer memories together.
From the water slides and bounce house to face painting, games, music, and the cookout, there was something for everyone—and plenty of laughter along the way. We’re so grateful to everyone who came out and helped make the day such a fun, welcoming celebration of connection and recovery.
overdose prevention awareness day
On August 31, ME-RAP and Enso Recovery came together at the Access Center to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day with an evening of remembrance, connection, and hope.
It was a beautiful gathering—an opportunity to honor the people we have lost, hold space for the people who carry those losses with them, and stand
alongside survivors, families, and people in recovery. In a space filled with reflection and connection, we were reminded why this work matters.
Every life has value, recovery is possible, and everyone deserves the chance to survive, heal, and thrive. We’re grateful to Enso Recovery and everyone who joined us to make the evening so meaningful.
our full center calendar!
David Austin is the Access Center Volunteer of the Month. He first came to the Center while completing volunteer hours for Veterans Court and chose to serve here because he is in recovery and wanted to give back.
He began by helping with daily cleanups and now volunteers about 20 hours each week, including canvassing in the community to spread awareness of the Access Center. David brings compassion, reliability, and a genuine passion for helping others.
