GREENFIELD — After battling drug addiction, self harm and suicidal ideation, 13-year-old Sie doesn’t know where she’d be if it weren’t for the support she’s gotten at the Discovery Cafe, a youth-oriented program offered at The Landing in Greenfield.

Known for offering recovery support programs for the past 10 years, The Landing is now offering a weekly support group exclusively for young people.

An open house was held Monday, Feb. 6 to teach the public what the program is all about.

“We’re helping young people focus on their mental health by offering coping skills and life skills along with eating dinner and playing games in a setting where they can interact like family,” said Linda Ostewig, who founded The Landing and its various offshoot programs.

The Discovery Cafe has been open every Wednesday night since November, and has drawn a core group of 11 youth so far who come together to enjoy a warm meal and mentoring.

“We want to be a place where lives can be transformed, to give young people a place of belonging where they know they are loved,” said Ostewig. “We want to be an open space where we serve food, provide clothing and hygiene (products) if they need it, where they’re able to play games and enjoy laughter or get a hug when they walk out the door.”

Sie said she doesn’t know what her life would be like if it weren’t for the Discovery Cafe, which launched in November.

“I’ve been coming here ever since this place opened,” she told the crowd gathered at Monday’s open house.

The Greenfield eighth-grader said the program has helped her to be able to cope with her day-to-day life, and to battle the demons she’s faced in the past.

“The people here are amazing,” she said. “They really give me hope to stay safe and sober.”

“You guys are making a real difference,” Sie told the crowd, which included Discovery Cafe coordinators and volunteers. “I don’t know what I’d do without people like you in the world.”

Ostewig said each Wednesday night at the Discovery Cafe follows the same format. The youth and mentors gather for a meal, followed by a sharing circle in which they are asked three questions: What’s your challenge this week, what’s your short-term goal, and what are you grateful for?

The short-term goals could be as simple as getting enough sleep or remembering to take medications on time, or as poignant as breaking off or avoiding toxic relationships.

The format is modeled after the recovery circles adults experience at The Landing.

“By laying out a short-term goal and writing it down, it’s right there to circle back to the following week,” said Ostewig, who has seen both youth and adults benefit from the accountability.

Sixteen-year-old Nicole of Greenfield had nothing but positive things to say about The Landing’s recovery programs, which she has attended since she was 13 years old.

“The Discovery Cafe has helped me out a lot. It’s given me structure and a routine in my week, and someone to guide me through those questions I need answered. I look forward to coming every week,” she said.

Nicole shared that she’s struggled with self-harm for “a long time,” and that the Cafe’s program has made a world of difference in her life.

“I’m almost four years clean,” she said proudly, which prompted an enthusiastic round of applause from the crowd.

“The Discovery Cafe has definitely made me stronger and healthier,” she said, giving credit to one particular mentor in the audience — Jaidyn Hughes — who used to babysit Nicole as a child.

“If it wasn’t for her I probably wouldn’t have the structure I have now, so thank you,” she said.

Hughes, 20, of Greenfield, started coming to The Landing when she was 12 years old.

“I started coming (to support) a friend, then I realized I had a lot going on too, mostly anxiety, depression and trauma,” she said.

Finding support and strength through The Landing has given her the coping skills to live a happy life, she said. “I’ve got my own apartment and I’m working my dream job,” said Hughes, a web specialist for a Greenfield wholesaler.

She now spends her Wednesday nights serving as a mentor to Nicole and other youth who are struggling as she once did.

“They were helping me, so now I’m helping them,” she said of The Landing’s support staff.

“If it weren’t for Linda, I probably wouldn’t be dealing with (my issues) until later on in life, so I’m very thankful,” she said.

Ostewig said setting people on the right path is what The Landing is all about.

“The Discovery Cafe wants to (give) this generation of young people the tools they need early, so they don’t have to continue down the path of addiction” or other critical challenges, she said.

“We want everyone to know that there is a place for you,” said Ostewig.

“It doesn’t matter what you look like, where you come from or how much money you have — we have a space for you and we’re going to help you learn to make better life decisions, and that’s what it’s all about. That’s called saving lives.”

As its programs continue to grow, Ostewig encourages the community to spread the word so that everyone in search of support can find it at The Landing, which is located at 18 W. South St. in downtown Greenfield.

The nonprofit is seeking a grant to acquire a new bus to transport youth from throughout the community to the Discovery Cafe.

“Our current bus is old and needs work, so we’re looking for a new one so we can remove any barriers for youth trying to get to our facility,” she said.

To learn more about The Landing or to donate or volunteer, visit thelandingplacehc.com or contact Ostewig at [email protected].