Brainerd Little Free Library Features Books on Addiction Recovery
Addiction impacts an entire family. In the case of Tyler Walsh of Brainerd, recovery also impacted his entire family.
Sadly, having lived three years in sobriety, Tyler, or Ty as his family lovingly calls him, died in a motorcycle accident on Highway 210 in Brainerd in 2021. His mother, Catherine Walsh, reflects “I know for a fact he died happy and sober and with the love of God in his heart. We got to spend amazing time with him.He wrote tons of letters saying thank you.” Catherine even has one tattooed on her arm.
After years of addiction, Tyler found recovery and began living at Burlington Recovery Homes in Brainerd, a sober living environment. Catherine recalls “Burlington Recovery Homes is where my son finally felt safe, a sober resource in a crazy world.”
Throughout his years of addiction, Catherine had been buying books on addiction both for him and for herself. “You have to be able to understand it,” she states, “My son didn’t choose to be an addict, he was a good person who made a bad choice.”
Having understanding helped her and her family, and that led them to the desire to create a tangible way to pass along that understanding to others. Modeled after little free libraries, Ty’s uncle and aunt built a tiny library with the goal of filling it with books specifically for addicts, recovering addicts, and their loved ones. They decided to call it the “Ty-brary.”
Catherine shares, “The “Ty-brary” just kind of happened. Wonderful people came into my life and brought it to fruition. Everybody has put some part of their heart into this library.”
The first “Ty-brary” will be installed in Brainerd on Saturday, July 23 at noon. When it’s installed, it will be filled with books for parents of addicts, including books telling the story of other parents going through the journey of having a child with an addiction, and several books helping those who may be struggling with opioid addiction, painkillers, or alcoholism, along with reflections for those recovering
“Ty was a giving person…Addiction is such an epidemic. Having some free resources will make a difference.”
The Brainerd Ty-brary will be placed next to a garden setting with benches built by men living in sobriety at Burlington Homes. “We had a beautiful year with our son, and that wouldn’t have happened without Gene and Sheila (Haverkamp) – the safe place they provided. They’ve been a blessing,” said Catherine.
Ty’s parents, Brian and Catherine Walsh, live in Duluth, and they plan to place the next Ty-brary in the St. Louis County Jail.
This labor of love is happening through Ty’s family, but the goal is for it to truly make an impact in Ty’s honor. As Ty’s mom shares, “If I help one person, one addict, I will make my son proud.”
WHAT: Installation of the first Ty-brary
WHEN: Saturday July 23 at Noon
WHERE: 2nd St and Tyrol Dr, Brainerd