YAKIMA, Wash. – Peers Rising, a nonprofit organization, has launched its fourth location and first-ever in Yakima to support individuals in recovery. The center aims to offer resources, referrals, and events for youth and families dealing with substance or alcohol use disorder.
David Douglas, who started the Kittitas County Recovery Community Organization in 2019, shared his vision.
“My whole intention was providing a place where people could go to get support for their lives and recovery, however that looks for them,” he said. The nonprofit has since expanded, rebranding as Peers Rising and opening its latest location in Yakima.
Justin Peterson and Brandi Amundson, both in recovery themselves, highlighted the unique support the center offers. Peterson will work as the Recovery Service Manager at the Yakima office, and Amundson is the current Executive Director of Peers Rising.
“We try to get to what the best resource that you’re going to be needing, and we try to find that for you,” said Peterson.
“And a lot of the time we’re able to think outside the box and come up with different solutions,” Amundson said. “We also make sure that none of the peers, we don’t send them off to another place to start over. So, we do a warm handoff, warm referral; we try and find as many resources as possible, so they’re not doing that legwork over and over and having to start over again because that’s a barrier.”
For Peterson, the journey with Peers Rising has been transformative.
“I never felt like I belonged anywhere until I started becoming clean,” he said. “And I started looking at a different way of how I can help my community.”
Douglas shared that Peterson was one of the first peers served by the organization and has now come full circle.
“He’s regained the love of his family, and he’s been gainfully employed at Peers Rising now and is going to lead the Yakima office,” Douglas stated. With Peers Rising in Yakima, others can access valuable resources to support their recovery.
The Yakima location will operate Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No appointments are necessary to receive support.
