Thank you for taking the time to read our November recap. We are sincerely grateful to our partners and dedicated team whose consistent, meaningful work helps bring vital services and resources to individuals and families throughout the county. Our daily, monthly, and yearly efforts would not be possible without each of you.
If you know someone in Essex County who needs recovery support or services, or a family member who needs help supporting a loved one, please reach out to us at 978-961-7388
RESOURCES AND SERVICES DATA NOVEMBER 2025
This past month, ECO collaborated with local police departments and community partners to deliver services and resources to Essex County residents, including both housed and unhoused individuals. Below is a snapshot of our activity for November 2025.
Rides provided: 7
For clients facing transportation barriers, ECO provides rides to recovery-related destinations, including detox centers, inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, clinics, AA/NA meetings, hospitals, court, doctor’s appointments, and more. Ride requests were low this month. Please help us spread the word about this valuable resource to your community members and partners.
If you would like to apply for a ride voucher, please request an application through our contact form or get in touch with one of our Recovery Coaches.
Scholarships provided in 2025: 70
As of this month, ECO has provided 70 unique individuals with sober living scholarships, totaling $35,250 in awarded funds. We want to thank our sober home partners for all of the work they do creating a safe and sober space for those who need it.
Outreaches conducted: 155
ECO conducts outreaches in person, alongside police officers, at shelters, on the street, in the community, at community events, through service projects, etc. This month, we have full representation in data from all of our coaches. It’s great to see the work they’ve done.
Clients who accepted services: 101
Out of 155 physical outreaches conducted in the month of November, 101 clients accepted services, which is over 50%. This does not account for the number of individuals who initially decline services, but circle back weeks or months later to connect and get support.
Follow-ups/client engagements: 315
After an initial outreach, ECO follows up to engage with clients and ensures they are properly connected to services and resources. It is our hope that clients will utilize ECO Recovery Coaches long-term; in many cases, this happens. Due to the hard work of our team and collaborative efforts, we consistently have high numbers of follow-ups and engagements. Please note, this number includes each unique engagement had with clients, which means there can be more than one engagement per client.
Please note that the data presented represents estimates intended to provide a general snapshot and may not account for all activity. Specifically, this month’s data does not include all activity for ECO Region 4.
NOVEMBER EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
ECO had a productive month of clothing drives, community events, new meetings at the office, the list goes on. What you’ll see below are just a few highlights from November. For additional updates, events, and news, be sure to visit our Facebook page, where we share stories, resources, and news about ECO and organizations we work with.
ECO Quarterly Meeting | Lynnfield, MA | November 6th
Essex County Outreach held its quarterly meeting on Thursday, November 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Lynnfield MPTC. The meeting brought together community partners, clinicians, and advocates committed to addressing substance use, recovery, and public health across Essex County.
The morning began with opening remarks from Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, who spoke about the importance of continued collaboration across systems to support individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder.
Next, Michael Griffin, Court Clinician for Salem, Peabody, and Gloucester, led a Section 35 Q&A, providing valuable clarification on the civil commitment process, current practices, and common challenges faced by clinicians, families, and courts.
The meeting also featured a powerful personal recovery journey shared by Robert Ostrovsky, who spoke candidly about lived experience, resilience, and the role of community support in long-term recovery. His story underscored the importance of hope, connection, and accessible resources.
The final presentation was delivered by MassAbility, with Clinical Director Brie Insalaco and Project Coordinator Amanda Tower, who discussed the intersection of overdose and brain injury. Their presentation highlighted the often-overlooked neurological impacts of overdose, available supports, and the importance of trauma-informed, disability-aware approaches in recovery services.
The quarterly meeting provided an opportunity for education, dialogue, and strengthened partnerships, reinforcing Essex County Outreach’s commitment to coordinated, compassionate responses to substance use and recovery across the region.
Share the Warmth Drive | Salem, MA | November 3rd-November 28th, 2025
Thorough the month of November, Essex County Outreach hosted a warm clothing drive in Salem, MA, with all donations benefiting Lifebridge Northshore.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this drive a success. We extend a special thanks to the Salem Police Department, who hosted the boxes and helped spread the word. Because of the generosity of our community, we were able to collect 40 coats along with five full bags of winter essentials including hats, gloves, and scarves for individuals staying at Lifebridge.
As temperatures drop, access to warm clothing becomes a daily necessity. These items will help keep people safe and comfortable during the coldest months of the year, and they will be distributed directly to individuals who need them most.
Community Clothing Drive and Pop-Up Shop | Salisbury, MA | November 28th-December 14th, 2025
Starting in November, Essex County Outreach hosted a clothing drive at our main office. Donations from these drives went to the community pop-up shop hosted mid-December.
Once again, as temperatures drop, ECO feels it’s imperative to ensure all community members have the warm clothing and accessories they need to stay safe during the coldest month of the year. We appreciate everyone who helped organize, participated, donated, and showed up.
Hands & Hearts | Gloucester, MA | November 15th, 2025
On November 15th, ECO sponsored an event hosted by SADOD and Gloucester’s Luminaries & Love called Hands & Hearts. This family-friendly community remembrance gathering was a free event for all ages, giving kids and adults who attended a way to grieve and create together.
Attendants designed and created memory boxes, spiritual boxes, memorial rocks, and holiday ornaments for loved ones. Those at Hands & Hearts also had the chance to repair the luminaries from the overdose vigil in Gloucester this year and make new ones for upcoming observances.
New Meetings Start at ECO Office | Salisbury, MA | November 2025
In November, two new meetings popped up at the ECO office in Salisbury: Meditation Reset and Monday Night Madness. The former is a meeting run by MA Young People in Recovery (MyPIR), and the latter is a men’s meeting hosted by ECO Recovery Coach Supervisor Steve Heald.
Meditation Reset is a safe space for young people in recovery to explore the benefits of meditation in both recovery and life. MA Young People in Recovery (MyPIR) offers this meeting at ECO in Salisbury and online.
Men’s Monday Night Madness is a group discussion meeting focused on themes of gratitude, leadership, fellowship, and fathering. All meetings are held anonymously.