Safe Harbor Fundraising Event A Great Success – August 7, 2017

On Monday August 7th over 400 people gathered for the second annual Hungry for Hope event, a benefit for Granite Pathways’ Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth, NH. The event raised over $70,000 – more than double the amount raised at the first Hungry for Hope dinner last year.

Twenty local restaurants provided food, beer and wine to the guests, who mingled under tents at the harborside location, with sweeping views of the Piscataqua River. All of the food and beverages were donated, raising additional funds in addition to the ticket sales and spontaneous donations that were made throughout the evening. James Boyle, owner of Toyota of Portsmouth donated a minivan, for staff to use to provide transportation to individuals using Safe Harbor services.

The event was organized by two dedicated proponents of recovery and strong supporters of Safe Harbor, philanthropist and developer Renee Plummer and John Akar, co-owner of Cava Tapas and Wine Bar.

Safe Harbor, a peer-led recovery center, has received widespread support from all segments of the Portsmouth community since opening its doors last year. New Hampshire has the nation’s second highest per capita death rate from opioid overdose – a crisis that has touched almost everyone in the state.

Elizabeth Miller, Safe Harbor Director, said that the center has grown rapidly, training recovery coaches, implementing programs to support all pathways to recovery, and building bridges to local service providers including first responders, police, hospitals and the prison systems, as well as other recovery centers and support services. Safe Harbor staff are developing work readiness training programs, and reaching out to area businesses to provide job opportunities to people in recovery.

“It is amazing how this community has rallied and is so supportive of each other,” Elizabeth said. “It is overwhelming to see this level of caring and support.”