Serving Up Support: Maine - A Commitment to Recovery and Wellness With Recovery-Friendly Workplace Maine

To Our Incredible Team Members, Board Members, Volunteers, and Followers of Serving Up Support: Maine,

I am thrilled to announce that we are in the process of being a certified Recovery-Friendly Workplace in Maine. At Serving Up Support: Maine, we recognize the unique challenges faced by hospitality workers, including the struggle with substance use. As we grow and expand our reach, we are proud to partner with the Recovery Friendly Workplace program to affirm our commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all.

 Our mission is to foster a community where every individual feels valued and supported on their journey to recovery and wellness. We are dedicated to providing the resources and support necessary to address substance use, ensuring that our team members have access to the help they need. The crisis of substance use in the hospitality industry must be addressed as a community, and we are dedicated to providing a voice and a safe place for those seeking support. 

 By becoming a certified Recovery Friendly Workplace, we aim to break down the stigma surrounding substance use and mental health challenges in the hospitality industry. We believe that through empathy, active listening, and collaboration, we can create a positive impact and inspire change.

 Serving Up Support: Maine is committed to creating a healthy, safe, and stigma-free work environment through our participation in the Maine Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) program. RFWs encourage environments where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those impacted by substance use disorder. In order to achieve a high level of employee health, safety and productivity, we invite and encourage all employees to reach out for help and support.

 Together, we stand united in our commitment to support, empower, and uplift our community.

 I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their commitment and dedication to the organization, and for the hard work involved in our growth. We've come from a small text-messaged based support group to a spotlight on a global stage, and I cannot press upon you how grateful I am to you. This is no small feat and I am incredibly proud to be involved in the development of both your professional aspirations and your personal growth. Your trust in me is not something I take lightly. I know many of our support group members are still afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation, job loss, or judgment. 

 I hear you and I see you. 

 This movement to support hospitality workers will not take root overnight. It's going to take time to continue to develop the network, but look at how far we've come since February. Since the days of the Pandemic. I am so proud of all of you for even coming to us to seek help, or just to sit beside others struggling so they don't feel alone and afraid. 

 Your presence alone is enough to keep us driving forward and to grow the network even further. It is my sincere hope that someday, you feel safe enough to speak up about your struggles; if not today, or tomorrow, then someday in the future. That is the world we are trying to create–and to our dedicated team and volunteers who run our social media accounts, website, and who are constantly on the lookout for resources, businesses, and organizations, our success is owed to all of you! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything you do. 

 We Serve, We Support, We Stand Together.

With Grace & Gratitude,
Nio DiPietrantonio 
Founder & Board President of Serving Up Support: Maine