Community members gathered on Fulton Street on Thursday morning to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the new Little Lights Childcare Center, an expansion of The Lighthouse Recovery Center.<\/p>\n
The yellow, two-story home is intended to serve women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction while also providing a safe environment for their children. The Lighthouse Recovery Center has helped women since 2007.<\/p>\n
Founder Vikki Luna said the new center was created in response to a growing need for a place where children can thrive while their mothers participate in recovery programs.<\/p>\n
“We’ll provide an environment – a safe family-like and home life where these children can be nurtured, where moms can be safe, where they will be mentored in bonding and therapeutic bonding and story time,” Luna said.<\/p>\n
Among those celebrating the center’s opening was Veronica Quintero, whose life was changed through The Lighthouse Recovery Center. Quintero sought help in 2011 while facing substance addiction.<\/p>\n
“I was used, abused, addicted, at the lowest point of my life, lost my children to CPS, lost my marriage and it was just a very dark time in my life,” Quintero said.<\/p>\n
Quintero completed the recovery program in six months. She now works in client services and said she remained with the organization that helped her rebuild her life.<\/p>\n
“I am extremely grateful for the lighthouse, I am glad I am here and part of it and I am able to help those that are coming off the streets as well,” Quintero said.<\/p>\n
Having witnessed the organization’s growth in Fresno, Quintero said the Little Lights Childcare Center will help more women and families remain together during recovery.<\/p>\n
“It’s the little ones that are struggling that no longer have their mothers but here we are going to be able to have families and keep them together,” Quintero said.<\/p>\n
Luna said the facility will house mothers and their children while also offering childcare services.<\/p>\n
Little Lights Childcare is expected to open and begin serving the community by mid-September. More information about the organization’s services is available through The Lighthouse Recovery Center.<\/p>\n
For news updates, follow Elisa Navarro on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n