The roads to recovery are many...
Alano Club of Kent County is a nonprofit organization that supports our community in addiction recovery. Our name is a compilation of our different functions: AL is for alcohol, AN for anonymous, and O for the organization. We host 13 different recovery support groups and meetings and are proud to be open to the public 365 days a year.
We believe that all roads to recovery are worth celebrating. We don’t wear the same shoes or walk the same path, so the best program for you is the one that keeps you sober.
“The roads to recovery are many, and the resolution of alcoholism by any method should be a cause for celebration by AA members.” - Bill Wilson
Our Club’s mottos confirm our welcoming spirit. “Keep coming back,” “we’ll save a seat for you” and “stronger together.” We welcome everyone to call our Club their second home!
The History of Alano Club of Kent County
The Alano Club of Kent County was founded in 1952 by Peter D., David T., Fred L., Earl S., Arthur S., and Wellon B. They saw a need for the alcoholism recovery resources that Bill Watson had established in Akron, Ohio, in Grand Rapids. Through their hard work, a fellowship of men and women sharing the desire to stay sober and helping other alcoholics to achieve recovery was born.
The Alano Club initially met in a building on Bond Street, but as the number of participants increased, we quickly outgrew our space. Dr. O. Nathan French donated his home at 1020 College Avenue NE, where the Alano Club still meets today.
The Alano Club has had two major renovations in 1982 and 2006, plus a foundation repair in 2015. We hear all the time from out-ot-town visitors that they’d have to go “a long way to find a club as good as this one is.” We are grateful to have this big house of ours and strive to be good stewards of its use.
Today, we serve over 50,000 people each year, with over 265,000 individual meeting visits. Our club is open from 8:00 AM to 9:15 PM every day of the year. Our meeting spaces are clean and friendly, and we have a resource library and club café where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, read, and practice sobriety.
What Makes Our Club Special
Because alcoholism is a family disease, the Alano Club has expanded our programming to reach others in need through other programs like Al-Anon and Alateen groups for families and friends of the alcoholic.
We’ve also added other groups to support our friends and neighbors as they recover from other types of addiction through programs like Narcotics Anonymous and Heroin Anonymous, along with family support groups like Nar-Anon and SMART Family & Friends.
And because it’s not uncommon for people in recovery to replace one addiction with another, we now have Food Addicts in Recovery and Eating Disorder Anonymous.
For over 70 years, the Alano Club of Kent County’s mission has been to serve those recovering from addiction by providing a welcoming place for support, meetings, and fellowship. People come to us in various ways: some are referred by the Kent County Court System, a health care provider, at the urging of family or loved ones, and some on their own initiative. Regardless of how a person ends up at the Alano Club, they are immediately part of our family when they get here.
We'll Save A Seat For You!
We are located at: 1020 College Ave NE | Grand Rapids, MI 49503
The Power of Recovery
“The roads to recovery are many, and the resolution of alcoholism by any method should be a cause for celebration by AA members.” — Bill Wilson
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