After receiving a $350,000 grant from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Save the Michaels of the World, Inc. will expand into Lockport. 

The state awarded more than $5.1 million in funding to establish new recovery community centers across New York. 

The nonprofit was established after Michael Israel succumbed to opioid addiction nearly eight years ago. 

"It's gonna be almost eight years since Michael passed," said Israel's father, Avi. "Sorry if I get a bit emotional but, when I talk about my son — I miss him." 

The grant will establish 14 new centers, including the Save the Michaels of the World House of Hope in Niagara County. 

According to the Niagara County Department of Health, there were 430 documented opioid-related overdoses and 44 fatalities in 2018. 

Laura Kelemen, Niagara County's director of Mental Health Services, says Lockport's Opiate Task Force has been working to remove the stigma surrounding addiction and increasing access to care with facilities like The House of Hope. 

Kelemen says Niagara County needs "a community center where people can come and experience everyday social support, everyday recreational support health and enjoy leisure activities in a safe sober environment.”