Patrick Gilhool made a promise to Recovery Bank Director Frank Bolock while he was still in jail: If he got out, he would come to the center every day.
Gilhool kept his promise, attending meetings and participating in activities nearly every day. At one point, Bolock decided that Gihool should probably be paid for all the work that he did, so he named Gilhool facilities director.
But Gilhool didn’t stop there; he went back to school and became a certified recovery specialist. Now he runs groups at the Recovery Bank, in addition to his other duties.
The Recovery Bank President and CEO Frank Bolock talks with Pennsylvania Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs Katika Davis-Jones at The Recovery Bank in Scranton Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Certified Recovery Specialist at The Recovery Bank Patrick Gilhool, far left, talks with The Recovery Bank President and CEO Frank Bulock Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Special Assistant Margaret Eckles-Ray and Pennsylvania Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Latika Davis-Jones at The Recovery Bank in Scranton Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The Recovery Bank President and CEO Frank Bolock looks on during a visit with the Pennsylvania Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs Katika Davis-Jones at The Recovery Bank in Scranton Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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The Recovery Bank President and CEO Frank Bolock talks with Pennsylvania Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs Katika Davis-Jones at The Recovery Bank in Scranton Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
On Tuesday, Gilhool shared his story with Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Latika Davis-Jones, who was visiting the center to highlight the benefits of the Shapiro administration’s $112,000 investment in the facility.
Davis-Jones referenced services available at the facility and the ability of staff to connect people with resources, through in-patient support, outpatient resources, housing, mental health services and more.
These types of services put people back into their communities, help people to be productive and reunite them with families, Davis-Jones said.
It’s a win not just for the individual, but for the community as a whole, she said. When stigma is removed from the problem of addiction, answers present themselves and people are able to use tools necessary to succeed, fueled not by shame but by hope.
Bolock took Davis-Jones and her team on a tour of the facility.
The two-story, 10,000-square-foot space in a former bank building offers services and programs for people who want to get better but need a hand up. If some walk in looking for rehabilitation, certified recovery specialists steer them toward licensed treatment centers.
Davis-Jones said that since Gov. Josh Shapiro took office, the Recovery Bank has doubled the number of service recipients per month as a result of his administration’s strategic investments, expanding the center’s programs — including LGBTQ-specific services, life skills recovery coaching and classes focused on preventing recurrence of substance use.
The center serves about 1,200 people per month, Bolock said. Each logs in anonymously at a kiosk, which indicates what services they’re participating in.
Those services include not just support meetings or speakers, but meditation, yoga, cooking and crafts, providing a comprehensive support system for those struggling with addiction, enabling them to be productive and build relationships, Bolock said.
Before concluding her visit to the Recovery Bank, Davis-Jones participated in a class titled “What the heck is meditation?” which provides a chance for those unfamiliar with meditation to give it a try.
“Governor Shapiro has made it clear that we want to ensure that there are a continuum of services across the commonwealth,” she said. “So, we’re talking about treatment services, recovery services, housing, in addition to making sure that we have harm-reduction supports, including test strips and naloxone.”
Those struggling with addiction and looking to take a first step in recovery may call 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Text and chat support is also available at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/ddap/treatment-and-support/substance-use-disorder-treatment.