Community Events- September
September Community Events
September Recovery Happens in San Diego
“I am excited to be a part of Recovery Happens because this event is highlighting the importance of family and community as part of the recovery process,” said Katie Wood, substance abuse counselor and child care specialist at MHS’ Harmony West program. “Without this type of support, the road to recovery would be that much more difficult,” she added.
Each September, San Diego celebrates National Recovery Month with Recovery Happens. This year’s theme is “Recovery: A Community Affair”. Sponsored by the County of San Diego and local substance abuse and behavioral health service providers, this year’s event boasts 150 participants. Katie is heading up MHS participation. Scheduled for September 10, the county-wide celebration will take place from noon until 3:00 p.m. at Balboa Park (Presidents Way and Park Blvd lawn area).
The event features provider booths that distribute information, an art exhibit and other entertainment, as well as face painting, games and activities for children. In addition to information, MHS will join other providers to offer healthy snacks to those who attend. “I agreed to represent Mental Health Systems in this event because I believe in the power of gathering every walk of life to showcase that drugs and alcohol do not discriminate,” Katie Wood explained. “I want to make sure the community is aware of every facet MHS has to offer, whether for themselves or a loved one. I am proud of the programs who have agreed to volunteer and participate, as well as the number of client’s who are volunteering their time.”
Ms. Wood has good reason to be proud: the Alumni Association at Harmony West is actively involved in coordinating volunteers from the program, as well as advertising the event within their own communities. Volunteers to work the MHS booth come from several MHS programs, as do donations of healthy snacks to be distributed from the booth. The MHS Reentry Treatment Program, SASCA, Mid-Coast Regional Recovery Center, Central East Regional Recovery Center, and our Peer2Peer program are all committed to helping with the event.
At MHS we see hundreds of clients each year whose lives are transformed through substance abuse and mental health recovery. We’re pleased to have this forum for celebrating their success.
SoberStock Fresno's 6th Annual Celebration
In our Central Region, the 6th Annual SoberStock marks Fresno’s celebration of National Recovery Month. Sponsored by Community Partners 4 Recovery, an area collaborative dedicated to promoting substance abuse recovery, SoberStock is being held at Manchester Center on Blackstone and Shields in Fresno. The two day event begins on Friday night, September 23, with a kick off concert. On Saturday, September 24, SoberStock continues, opening with speakers sharing their own stories of recovery followed by a full day of information, entertainment and activities. The event includes food, a free carnival and bounce house for the children, live music, a car show, a bike show, and a raffle. In tandem with these activities, Fresno area service providers offer a traditional resource fair. (Continued)
MHS looks forward to hosting two information booths at this year’s event. Our Fresno FIRST program will operate a booth of its own and MHS will host another booth for the agency as a whole. Twenty women from our Fresno FIRST program will be volunteering as event staff overseeing the children’s carnival. If you’re in the area, please stop by the MHS booths at SoberStock. We’d love to see you there!
For more information click here.