Members of IBEW Local 38 and their signatory contractors recently donated $34,000 in labor to the Women’s Recovery Center, which offers a multitude of services to women struggling with addiction.

The Women’s Recovery Center is an intensive outpatient center in Cleveland dedicated to women, focusing largely on substance abuse disorder. They use a unique approach to recovery, including care for physical health, emotional healing and family reunification.

Women taking part in treatment programs come to the center three times per week for group therapy or case management. Since the center is an outpatient facility, none of the 120 women who take part live at the center.

After completing a $1.1 million renovation of the center and having a grand reopening ceremony in December of 2019, leadership at the Women’s Recovery Center realized that safety in the parking lot could become a concern.

Many of the women work during the day and attend programming at night, forcing them to walk to their transportation in the dark for much of the year.

The center’s programs go beyond helping women recover from addiction. It focuses on making sure the women have the support needed to stay clean. They offer legal assistance, free clothing and childcare so the women can focus on recovering with fewer life stresses.

After getting a quote to have parking lot lighting installed, the cost was entirely out of the center’s budget.

After reaching out, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Greater Cleveland chapter and Local 38 worked together to make the installation happen.

Following the 2019 grand reopening of the center, Harrington Electric and Four Seasons Excavating went to work and donated time to make the improvements. The work consisted of digging and installing 14 bollards around the perimeter of the parking lot.

Once the work was completed, Women’s Recovery Center Board Member Nicole Inman recognized how much safer those using the building are. Since safety for these women and children is one of their main concerns, Inman expressed appreciation for the lighting improvements.

“Women and children leaving are much safer. Lighting is proven to drop crime,” she said. “If they hadn’t done it, the lights wouldn’t have been put in.”

Women’s Recovery Center Executive Director Ashley Yassall also gave thanks for the help to increase safety.

“Our building is next to a gas station and used to get a lot of cross through traffic,” Yassall said. “The lights have provided a barrier for people passing through and have increased safety for people walking through the parking lot.”

In a neighborhood with a higher than average crime rate, the lighting is a great way to limit incidents on women who are already enduring tough times.

“Our clients used to not feel safe at night walking to their car in the parking lot and the lights have eliminated that problem,” Yassall said. “The lights have protected our staff, clients and any others who enter our building.”

IBEW Local 38 President Michael Muzic said Local 38 members are always interested in helping make area communities safer.

“It is a great feeling when Local 38 and our partners at NECA help out a well deserving organization like the Women’s Recovery Center,” he said. “It is very gratifying to know that adding interior and exterior lighting to the building can make such a huge impact, not only to the inside of their building, but also help add security to the outside entrance and parking lot.”

Muzic also expressed gratitude to be able to help the women obtain the help and resources they need to live successful lives.

“It is always nice to try and give back to the community and to help an organization that does such great things for people in need,” he said.