The following support groups are offered in the North Quabbin area. Those held at the Athol Memorial Hospital take place in the 1st floor conference room unless otherwise indicated. All meetings are free unless noted:
ACOA AlAnon - For adults raised by alcoholic caretakers, parents. Meets every Saturday, 10am, Athol Hospital conference room.
ACT (Act Of Choice Team) - Support group for those who want to add exercise to their daily routine. Free. Facilitator Jeanie Stone, 292 Mayo Rd., Orange, 978-790-2797.
Alanon - For family and friends of people with alcohol related issues. Every Monday, 7 pm, Athol Memorial Hospital,conference room.
Alanon/Alateen - Call Alanon Family Groups at 508-366-4663 for area meeting times and locations.
Alcoholics Anonymous - Sunday, YMCA, 11am-noon; Our Lady Immaculate Church 7-8:30 pm. Mondays, Our Lady Immaculate Church noon-1pm, First Universalist, 7:30-9pm. Tuesdays, Our Lady Immaculate Church noon-1pm; Our Lady Immaculate 8-9pm; Orange District Court, 6-7pm. Wednesday, Our Lady Immaculate noon-1pm; Athol-Orange Baptist Church, 8-9pm. Thursday, Our Lady Immaculate noon-1pm.; Orange United Methodist Church 7:50-9pm. Friday, Our Lady Immaculate noon-1pm; Our Lady Immaculate 7-8:30pm. Saturday, Our Lady Immaculate 12:30-2pm; Our Lady Immaculate 7-8pm
Bereavement Support Group New Beginnings, a bereavement support group is held at 1 pm on the second Wednesday of each month at the GVNA Adult Day Health Care Center, 1471 rear Main St, Athol. Facilitated by Bonnie Frank Hume, L.I.C.S.W. For more info call GVNA at 800-382-7305 X3084
Bereavement Support Groups -GVNA HealthCare, Inc. 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 2nd Monday of the month from 6:30pm - 8:00pm or 4th Monday of the month from 2:00pm - 3:30pm For more information, please call John Aliskevicz (978) 632-1230, Ext. 3029.
North Quabbin AdultDay Health Center, 1471 Main St., Rear, Athol 1st Wednesday of the month from 6:30-8 p.m.or 3rd Wednesday of the month from 2-3:30 p.m. For more information call the HospiceProgram978-632-1230,Ext.3084.
Better Breathers Support Group - Monday, Nov. 4, 2:30-3 p.m., dining conference room, Heywood Hospital, 242 Green St., Gardner. Speaker Pauline Metevier RRT, CPFT on topic "Open Discussion." For more information, call cardio-pulmonary services at 978-630-6222.
North Quabbin Adult Day Health Center (behind Bruce's Browsers) 1471 Main Street Rear, Athol, MA 2nd Wednesday of the month from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm For more information, please call the Hospice Program at (978) 632-1230, Ext. 3084.
Blind And Visually Impaired - Every Thursday, 12:30-2:30pm at the AOTV conference room, 163 South Main St., Athol 978-575-9927.
Cancer Support Group - Facilitated by the AMH Oncology Clinic's Bonnie Frank Hume, LICSW, Meets the first Wednesday of every month at 4:30 p.m. in the Athol Memorial Hospital conference room.
Caregivers of Cancer Patients Support Group - Last Wednesday of every month, 3pm, Heywood Hospital, hospital aid conference room, Gardner.
Caregiver's Support Group (2 sites, Fitchburg & Athol) -- Fitchburg Adult Day Health Center, 481 Electric Ave., Fitchburg; 3rd Tuesday of the month from 1:15-2:30 p.m. Info: 978-342-9428. North Quabbin Adult Day Health Center, 1471 Main St., rear, Athol. 2nd Wednesday of the month from 3-4 p.m. (This support group specific to Alzheimer's or related disorders), Info: 978-248-9470.
Caregivers Support Group - The Community Church of North Orange and Tully, Creamery Hill Road, Orange, will host a new support group for parents, grandparents, other family members, caregivers and friends of special needs children. The first meeting will be held Monday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m., and further days and times for monthly meetings will be discussed at that time. The group is meant to give families and caregivers of special needs children in Orange, Athol, Warwick and surrounding areas a chance to meet and share feelings, thoughts, experiences, support and resources. For more information, call 978-965-2365 or holglen@gmail.com.
Celebrate Recovery -- A Christian-based 12-step support group for those interested in healing their hurts, habits and hangups; Tuesday 7pm, Athol Four Square Church, 500 Main St., Athol. 978-249-4024.
Central Mass. Limb Loss Support Group -- second Tuesday of the month, Clinton Hospital, 210 Highland St., Clinton, conference rooms 1 & B. Free, open to all amputees, families, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
Community Caregiver Support Group - For those caring for a loved one with memory loss. Second Wednesday, 3-4 pm, North Quabbin Adult Day Health Center, 1471 Main St., Athol (rear).
Dads Against Divorce Discrimination - Open to men and women who support shared parental responsibility, 978-544-8204.
Dual Recovery Anonymous(DRA) - For those with metal illness and an addiction. Held at Quabbin House. 25 West Main St., Orange. Tuesday's and Thursdays 5-7 p.m. For more information call 978-544-1859.
Food Addicts In Recovery Anonymous - For persons recovering from addictive eating, bulimia and anorexia based on the 12-step program. No weigh-ins. Sunday, 4-5:30pm, Wesley United Methodist Church, 375 N. Pleasant St., Amherst; Wednesday, 6:30-8pm, Jewish Community of Amherst, 742 Main St., Amherst.
Gamblers Anonymous - Every Tuesday, 8-9:30pm, St. Mark's thrift shop hall, 60 West St., Leominster.
Gamblers Anonymous (Orange) -- Wednesdays, 8-9:30 p.m., Orange United Methodist Church, 104 So. Main St., Orange.
Gardner Visiting Nursing Assoc. Bereavement Support Group - 345 Pearly Ln., Gardner. Last Monday of each month, 2-3:30pm
Grief Support Group for Parents - Those who have lost a teenage or adult child are welcome to attend a free and confidential support group with other parents. The group meets the third Monday of each month, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., in Conference Room A at the Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 164 High St., Greenfield. It is free and confidential. Those attending can bring a friend for support as well. For more information, call 413-773-9872 or 413-253-9523.
Learn to Cope - Support for families of loved ones battling addiction. Every Wednesday at Heywood Hospital Conference Room A, Main Building. 7-8:30 p.m. First and third Tuesday, Greenfield Community College Main Building, 2nd Floor, Room C208, 7-8:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Narcotics Anonymous - Meets every Wednesday from 7-8:30pm at the Our Lady Immaculate Church, 192 School St., Athol.
National Alliance on Mental Illness of Western Mass. Inc. (NAMI-WM) - Meets the second Wednesday of the month, 5-7 pm, Quabbin House, 25 West Main St., Orange. Well-lit parking. 978-544-1859.
Overeaters Anonymous - Meets every Thursday at 4pm at Athol Hospital, in the Briggs Cinference Room. 413-548-5589 and every Tuesday at 6:30pm at the Gardner Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, 59 Eastwood Cr., Chapel Conference Room, Gardner, 978-939-4089.
Parents Anonymous - Every Wednesday, 7-9pm 1-800-882-1250.
Parents Without Partners - First and third Wednesdays, 7:30-9pm, Leominster United Methodist Church, 77 Hall St. 978-425-4708.
Parkinson's Support Group - Last Wednesday of the month, 2pm. Heywood Hospital's dining room conference room B, Gardner.
P-Flag Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - Last Tuesday, 7pm, Gardner First Unitarian Society, 66 Elm St., Gardner
Pregnancy - Problem Pregnancy of Athol, 105 Main St., Athol, provides free pregnancy testing, counseling and support, clothing, diapers, furniture for infants. Available to any mother, regardless of age or circumstances. Open Thursdays, 10am to 1pm, or by appointment by calling 978-602-5617.
Quabbin House - Group meetings for family/friends; second Wednesday of the month, 5-7pm. Free and confidential. Sponsored by National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Western Mass. Location 25 W. Main St. (downstairs), Orange. 978-544-1859.
SMART Recovery - is a cognitive/rational approach to overcoming addictive behavior and maintaining abstinence. Learn to manage your feelings and combat the urge to use drugs and/or alcohol. Meets on the first and third Saturday each month at 10 a.m. in the education room, first floor south wing at Athol Hospital.
Smoking Cessation - Facilitated by Tim Sweeney, Tobacco Treatment Specialist. Meets every Monday, 6-7pm, Athol Hospital, cafeteria.
Stroke Support Group - Meets on the third Thursday of the month. Facilitated by Barbara Nealon, LSW, 2:30pm, Heywood Hospital, dining room A. For stroke survivors and their family or significant other. Free.
Stroke Support Group - Communicating, caring and coping together: a community resource for you and your family. Third Thursday every month, July through November, Health Alliance Hospital-Burbank Campus, Simonds-Sinon Regional Cancer Center, 275 Nichols Rd., Fitchburg. 3-4 p.m.
SUICIDE HOTLINE - For over 40 years, Samaritans, Inc. volunteers have answered more than 2.5 million phone calls. The agency has trained more than 4,500 volunteers and instructed more than 100,000 individuals through its Community Education and Outreach Program, and has supported over 10,000 individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide. The 24 hour phone and text Samaritans Statewide HelpLine can be reached at 877-870-HOPE (2673). For more information about Samaritans, visit www.samaritanshope.org Support & Information, CHD, Orange Innovation Center -131 West Main St., Orange. For any friend of family member of an alcohol or drug addicted person. No registration required. 10-11 a.m., first Mondays every month.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly. TOPS Club Inc. Chapter MA456 - Non-profit support group meets at 5:45 p.m. every Thursday in the conference room at Athol Hospital, 2033 Main St., Athol. Harvey LaPrade, Chapter Leader, is responsible for inspiring and motivating members to reach and maintain their weight-loss goals. Maryanne Sullivan is Weight Recorder; Donna Leavitt is Asst. Weight Recorder. Info: www.tops.org or call 800-932-8677.
Tough Love Support Group for Parents - Every Wednesday, 6:30-8:30pm, 5 South Main St., Orange.
Weight-Loss Surgery Support Group (WLS) - For people interested in surgery or for surgical weight-loss patient through gastric bypass or lap band methods. Meetings third Tuesdays, 7-8:30pm, Mt. Wachusett Community College boardroom, 444 Green St., Gardner.