The Meeting Place’s board of directors was torn when it met last week. The volunteers knew the role they play in the 12-step recovery community: Every month, up to 4,000 people battled their addictions — to alcohol, drugs, sex, overeating — in 58 weekly meetings at the former church on North 28th Street.

“We recognize that meetings can save lives,” said Bill Ganzel, the board chair. “Getting into the program, whatever the addiction is — going to meetings, seeing other people, working the steps, getting sober — it can literally save lives.”

And as churches started canceling the meetings they hosted to limit the threat of the coronavirus, the Meeting Place became even more important. A large and long-standing Alcoholics Anonymous group from St. Paul United Methodist Church moved over. A vets-only group followed. But temporarily closing the Meeting Place, which had been open since 1990, was painful. Ganzel called it one of the toughest decisions he’s had to make.

The board invested in a conference-call system, and encouraged meetings to continue by phone.