Groups holding family-friendly recovery event

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Local organizations are banding together to help people get out of addiction and into recovery.

“The Recovery Alliance of Montgomery County Ohio” is hosting a family-friendly event to encourage people to take the first step towards recovery and celebrate others who already have.

Bizen Abrha with the Dayton Fellowship Club has been in recovery 26 years and counting.

“We’re just like any other people. We have a problem that we don’t know what to do with. Then, once you’re in recovery, you get the tools that you need,” states Abrha. “It is very important to show people in the community that there is fun in recovery. We have fun. We do celebrate each other. We do celebrate our family. We do celebrate the community. We are very productive members of the community.”

“I am 35 years in long term sobriety. I’ve done everything from A to Z. I’m not proud of none of it. But I’m grateful to have a second chance at life,” says Keith Trammell with RAMCO and the WestSide Club.

Shirley Quinn–with Voices of Fellowship, the Dayton Fellowship Club, and RAMCO–just celebrated 20 years in recovery.

“This new way of life really has opened a lot of doors,” says Quinn.

The Healthy Recovery Celebration will be held Saturday, July 20 from noon until 5 p.m. at McIntosh Park at 882 West Riverview Avenue.

“It’s all about no family left inside. We want you to bring your families out, your children out, all your relatives, come out here and eat for free. Get some resources on what recovery is about or the help that you need,” states Gilbert Dillard of RAMCO. “Twenty-four hours is a long time to act right, stay clean, stay sober, stay crime free. So, we let them know these 24 hours adds up to years.”

There will be free food, a DJ, door prizes, and a bike giveaway.

“It’s very important for us to share recovery with family, friends, and the community. we came from a helpless hopeless state of mind and now we’re living, we’re free, we’re enjoying this life that God has blessed us with,” says Jermaine Hawkins of the WestSide Club.

Hundreds of people are expected to show up.

“We come out here, and we share our recovery stories with them. Hopefully it will release some of the tension, some of the stigma talking about addiction, talking about mental health. And they get to see us,” states Dillard.

“I get to give back to the community that I was born and raised in, the community that I used to take from, now I get a chance to give back,” says Robert Cecil with Good Shepherd Ministries.

The event is free for everyone.

“We’re going to have a 50/50 raffle. We’re going to have a live DJ. We’re going to have the sprinkler system going for the kids. We’re going to have hot dogs and hamburgers and pop,” states Hawkins.

To participate as a vendor, contact Shirley Quinn at 937-270-5567. For more information or to donate to any of these groups, contact Jermaine Hawkins 937-204-6774.

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