By Will Tuell

Whether it was an Oreo cookie ice-cream cake, a batch of homemade donuts, or any one of a couple dozen desserts, area residents flocked to the annual Arise Addiction Recovery supper and dessert auction recently and supported the local faith-based addiction recovery center in a big way. 

“We want to express our gratitude for everyone who was a part of our Benefit [Supper] last night,” Arise said following the Nov. 4 event. “We raised over $13,000, praise the Lord! This would not be possible without everyone’s generosity: those who served and coordinated, those who donated items, and everyone who attended. You all play an important role in helping us to continue the mission the Lord put in our hearts eight years ago. We are blessed to be a part of such a generous community.” 

The supper, held at Elm Street School in East Machias, included an impressive all-you-could-eat pot-luck meal with several versions of baked beans, macaroni and cheese, shepherd’s pie, pasta dishes, quiches, salads, chilis, and more. 

Following the meal, auctioneers showcased an array of sweets -- many of which went for hundreds of dollars -- as well as an assortment of Chinese auction items ranging from fresh seafood to hunting gear to an assortment of gift certificates at local businesses and restaurants in an effort to support the Machias-based residential rehab located on Lincoln Street. 

Over the years, Arise, which began as a mission of Machias Christian Fellowship, has grown from an idea first conceived by Pastor Aaron Dudley and Director Paul Trovarello into a fledgling rehab embraced by churches from Maine to West Virginia. Residents battling various forms of addiction -- including alcohol and drug abuse -- live at the Arise house, study the Bible, attend church, learn how to put their lives back together, and enter the workforce during their nine-month stay at the abstinence-based facility.

For more information about Arise, contact Director Paul Trovarello at 207-271-7060 or via email at [email protected]. You can also learn more about Arise at www.ariseaddictionrecovery.com.

Bidders at the Arise Addiction Recovery benefit supper and dessert auction raised over $13,000 for the Machias-based rehab earlier this month. Photo courtesy David Cale.

Pictured left-to-right: Jessica Jerome, Arise Director Paul Trovarello, and Peter Rispoli. Jerome and Rispoli shared their testimony during the Nov. 4 Arise dinner and dessert auction. Photo courtesy Jen Wood.