Recovery for Shore Announces Community Events to Celebrate National Recovery Month

There are more than 23 million Americans leading productive and meaningful lives in long-term recovery from alcohol or other drug addiction, and a local ad hoc advocacy and planning group, Recovery for Shore, invites the community to celebrate this “good news” by participating in two events in September, the second annual Scoop Scoot, September 13, 2-5 p.m., in downtown Easton, and a Gratitude Dinner September 16, 5:30 p.m., at the Easton Elks Lodge.

“September is designated as National Recovery Month by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),” notes Sharon Dundon, addiction specialist for UM Shore Regional Health’s Shore Behavioral Health and a co-founder of Recovery For Shore. “We are excited to have two events to highlight the fact that excellent treatment programs and recovery support are available in our communities, and that successful long-term recovery is a reality for so many of our citizens.”

On Sunday, September 13, Recovery for Shore’s second annual “Scoop Scoot” will be based in Thompson Park at the corner of Washington and Dover Streets in Easton. “Scoop Scoot is an ‘ice cream crawl’ for people of all ages to have some fun celebrating September as Recovery Month,” says Dundon. “We had a great time last year and anticipate the same this year.”

In addition to cool and crunchy treats provided by Old Town Creamery, Rita’s, Scottish Highland Creamery and Squirrel Pit, Scoop Scoot also will feature musical entertainment, face painting, and other activities, as well as information about resources for recovery from drug and alcohol abuse, and about prevention. The $3 per person ticket price, paid on arrival at the event, covers ice cream scoops from each location on the “crawl.”

The Gratitude Dinner, set for Wednesday, September 16, 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 502 Dutchman’s Lane, will celebrate the joy of personal transformation and community acceptance of recovery from addiction. The event will feature dynamic keynote speaker Keith Mills, WBAL Sportscaster, who will help shed the stigma of addiction by sharing his journey of recovery.

“This first-time event is already attracting a lot of excitement,” says Dundon. “We have fewer than 100 tickets remaining so we are confident it will be a full house.”

Sponsors for both events include: NCADD-MD National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Maryland, Chesapeake Treatment Services, Warwick Manor, Dorchester County Addictions Program/DRI-DOCK Recovery and Wellness Center, Michael Marcell Memorial Fund, Chesapeake Voyagers LLC, Talbot County Health Department – Addictions Program, Shore Behavioral Health Addictive Disorders Program, Queen Anne County Health Department -Addictions Program, Talbot Partnership.