LANCASTER, Pa. — Sunday’s poor weather wasn’t enough to wash out the 11th annual Recovery Day in Lancaster in Buchanan Park.
The event was hosted by the Lancaster County Recovery Alliance, a grassroots collation that helps people during their recovery journey.
“We wanted to show the culture of Lancaster County because I don’t think the world really knows how involved it is in recovery, how much we want to help, and we want to be involved with providers who want to communicate, we just want to really smash that stigma,” said committee member, Maggie Hunt
The event was supported by more than a dozen local treatment and recovery organizations.
Hero in the Fight, founded by longterm recoverer Danny Albert, was one of those organizations.
“We’re just one of the vendors here, here to break stigma, let people know they don’t have to be alone, and that you can have fun in life without the use of a substance,” Albert said.
This year’s event included live music, bracelet making and free haircuts, to name a few.
Guests could even participate in a 5K Race for Recovery with all proceeds from this year’s event expected to support next year's activities.
“It benefits the vendors because they have the opportunity to represent themselves in Lancaster County and say, ‘hey we’re here, this is what we’re doing, and we want you to be a part of it’,” Hunt said.
For some, the event might just have been the first day of a substance-free life.
“Maybe this is their first recovery event, maybe they only have a few days in recovery, and then as they put some time together, things start coming back in their lives, and to see that growth is one of the biggest blessings that I get to be a part of,” Albert said.