White Horse Recovery Annual Event Dinner

Serving the northern half of New Hampshire, nonprofit White Horse Recovery will host its 2026 Annual Freedom Event on Wednesday, July 22 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Center Ossipee.

Titled “An Evening of Hope, Community, and Support,” this year’s event invites guests to hear powerful firsthand stories from individuals whose lives have been reshaped through the community-based supports offered by White Horse Recovery.

“Every person in recovery is on a hero’s journey—one that requires tremendous courage, resilience, and a community willing to walk beside them,” said White Horse Recovery Executive Director Matthew Plache. “When we remove barriers to care, we write stories of triumph that ripple through families and communities for years to come.”

In addition to inspiring testimonies of transformation, the evening will feature a bold vision to expand access to life-changing care and a silent auction with exclusive experiences and items. Tickets are $50 per person, with proceeds supporting White Horse Recovery’s behavioral health and addiction treatment services for individuals and families across Coos, Carroll, and Grafton counties.

With locations in Ossipee, North Conway, Berlin, and Littleton, White Horse Recovery provides outpatient counseling, peer recovery support, wellness education, and prevention programming. Click here to purchase tickets, become a sponsor, or learn more about White Horse Recovery.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.

White Horse Thrift Store

While customers of White Horse Recovery Thrift Store at the Indian Mound Shopping Center off Rt 16 are likely looking for good deals, their purchases support outpatient substance use disorder treatment, mental health care, peer support and recovery coaching across Carroll County and northern New Hampshire.

“Store proceeds support services from Ossipee all the way to Littleton and Berlin,” said Store Manager Shelley Shogren, who said this aspect of the store drives her enthusiasm. “It feels good to help people.”

Beyond retail operations, the thrift store provides free items to individuals experiencing homelessness or leaving incarceration and supports numerous other community needs.

“Donations and sales both contribute to our deeper mission,” explained Executive Director Matthew Plache, who said the store also provides workforce training opportunities for individuals in recovery. “We help people in recovery build confidence and job readiness while giving them a sense of community-minded purpose.”

Founded in 2014 to address the growing substance use crisis in New Hampshire, White Horse today operates Recovery Community Centers across the state’s northern counties, providing evidence-based care, peer support, clinical services, and community-focused programming. These centers are located in Center Ossipee, North Conway, Littleton and Berlin.

“We want people to know we are here and are an active and vital part of communities throughout Carroll, North Grafton, and Coos counties,” added Plache. “The message we want to promote is that we are a community-based organization with expertise and capacity, and our vision is to transform lives.”

To contact the store, call 603-651-1448.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.

White Horse Clinical Administrator Mara Michno with her children

Mara brings over a decade of nonprofit experience to her role as Clinical Administrator at White Horse. Her background includes teaching at an alternative high school in Alaska focused on credit recovery and working at Kingswood Youth Center in Wolfeboro for over ten years, the last five as Associate Director. There, she dedicated herself to youth mental health through outdoor activities, experiential learning, and mentoring programs.

“I’ve always worked kind of outside the box,” she reflects. “Everything we did at Kingswood was prevention—providing alternatives to isolation and substance use. It was all about giving young people different paths forward.”

When Mara learned about an opening at White Horse, the decision felt natural. “I had been collaborating with White Horse for 10 years through my other nonprofit work,” she says. I really liked their mission and what they’re all about. In my world, White Horse has a really good reputation, so I was excited to see an opening.”

The transition from Alaska to the East Coast twelve years ago brought her closer to her husband’s family, but it was her personal journey that ultimately led her to White Horse. As someone in recovery herself—recently celebrating five years of sobriety from alcohol—Mara brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her role.

“This is the least direct service I’ve done in a really long time, but it still feels like it’s fulfilling that within me,” she explains. “I interact with clients, see what’s going on in the peer support world, and learn about substance use disorders. I’ve always been really interested in mental health care.”

What makes her story particularly compelling is how White Horse has opened new possibilities for her career growth. “When I interviewed with Matthew [executive director], he said the possibilities are endless—you can do anything you want,” she recalls. “I’m seeing White Horse Recovery colleagues like Kelsey [Wentworth] getting her LDAC certification, and it’s really cool. Pieces are falling together in my mind about what’s possible.”

Her goal is to become a Certified Recovery Support Worker (CRSW), building on her master’s degree in teaching and extensive experience working with teens. “I’ve had a very strong interest in the mental health world, but the idea of completely starting over seemed impossible,” she says. “Now, I’m seeing there are different paths I could take.”

Beyond the professional growth, she finds deep meaning in working alongside others in recovery. “It’s inspiring and encouraging,” she says. “Seeing other people making strides and being successful brings to light that addiction can affect everybody, anybody, from any walk of life. It’s not being hidden or shameful. We’re humans who struggle and can help each other.”

Founded in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, White Horse Recovery has grown from a small organization into a leading nonprofit with 28 employees across four locations, providing both mental health and substance use disorder services.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.

White Horse Executive Director Matthew Plache

White Horse Recovery representatives will meet with the Carroll County Delegation’s Regional Appropriations Subcommittee this month to discuss the importance of continued support for White Horse’s substance use disorder clinical treatment program. The subcommittee, composed of Representatives MacDonald, Brown, and Woodcock, has been tasked with reviewing proposals concerning nonprofit funding in the County’s budget.

White Horse Recovery, a leader in Carroll County’s response to the opioid crisis, has been supported by the County in recent years—not through taxpayer dollars—but through funds allocated from the opioid abatement settlements. Beginning in 2021 through October 2025, Carroll County received $606,914 in opioid settlement money, paid by companies responsible for creating the opioid crisis. This money is specifically designated by law for opioid-related treatment and prevention efforts. Under the settlements, funds from the defendants will continue to be paid to Carroll County for another decade and a half.

“White Horse Recovery stands out because the support we’ve received from the County directly aligns with the purpose of these settlement funds—to address the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic,” said Matt Plache, White Horse Recovery’s Executive Director. “We use the funds we receive from the County to support our clinical program, treating people from every town in Carroll County regardless of their ability to pay, providing services that restore lives and families. Every dollar invested in this effort helps us continue this critical work.”

During 2024 and 2025, White Horse received $125,000 and $100,000, respectively, from the county’s opioid settlement fund to support outpatient treatment programs in their Ossipee and North Conway offices, as well as two weekly SMART Recovery sessions for inmates at the Carroll County House of Corrections. These services are part of a broader strategy to address opioid misuse and its many ripple effects in the community.

The opioid settlement funds, by law, must be used for prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts related to opioid misuse. Carroll County’s decision to participate in the national opioid litigation reflects its commitment to securing resources to combat the crisis and support its impacted residents.

“The County has done an excellent job advocating for these funds on behalf of its residents,” Plache continued. “Our mission is to ensure these dollars are translated into evidence-based treatment that makes a tangible difference here in Carroll County.”

The subcommittee’s recommendations are expected to shape the final budget decisions by the full Delegation in March. Interested residents can participate in the process by attending public meetings, asking questions, and advocating for sustained funding for opioid treatment services.

Founded in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, White Horse Recovery has grown from a small organization into a leading nonprofit with 28 employees across four locations, providing both mental health and substance use disorder services.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.

George Barber

White Horse Recovery, a leading provider of mental health and substance use support services in northern New Hampshire, continues to strengthen its connection to local communities with the addition of Recovery Coach George Barber.

“We are thrilled to welcome George to the team,” said White Horse Executive Director, Matthew Plache. “He brings professional expertise, lived experience, and a passion for helping others – he exemplifies the organization’s mission to foster hope and healing through compassionate care.”

Featuring a professional background that includes work as a chef, touring musician, record label owner, and mentor at a therapeutic boarding school, Barber is a native of Cape Cod and a Keene State College graduate. He has also navigated his own journey of recovery over the past six years.

“Shared experience is a powerful tool in recovery,” said Barber. “When people know you’ve walked a similar path, it builds trust and understanding. That connection can make all the difference when guiding someone toward a better future.”

At White Horse, Barber will work with vulnerable populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness and youth facing barriers to recovery. He is also currently pursuing certification as a Certified Recovery Support Worker (CRSW).

According to Barber, he was drawn to White Horse in part because of its deep ties to the local community. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve this community,” he explained. “My own experiences will hopefully help others change their lives.”

Looking ahead, Barber said he plans to continue to grow in his role. “My goal is to stay useful and keep learning,” he said. “I’m really excited by various opportunities presented here, especially for programming, especially for youth and vets along with various other forms of outreach – it really gets me jazzed.”

Founded in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, White Horse Recovery has grown from a small organization into a leading nonprofit with 28 employees across four locations, providing both mental health and substance use disorder services.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.