Better Life in Recovery, Inc. (BLiR) is an organization whose purpose is to deal hope and decimate stigma surrounding addictions and mental health diagnosis that men, women and children face every day through education and awareness events that celebrate people who are in long-term recovery. In the past, we have put on several events for youth in area communities to educate them on the dangers of addiction and the power of recovery. We are currently filming a documentary to take into schools and colleges. This year BLiR is working to reduce the stigma of addiction and recovery by giving back to our communities through service and awareness events.
We are partnering with Alternative Opportunities, Inc., the Recovery Coalition of the Ozarks, Higher Ground, Hands Extended Outreach, Victory Circle, Jericho Commission, Glendale Christian Church, local Celebrate Recovery and various other 12 Step groups, the Missouri Recovery Network and local business owners to organize and host several community events and community service projects. September is National Recovery Month, and we are having 4 major events this year to celebrate it as well as an outreach committee to find and plan community service projects.
1. Recovery Day at Hammond’s Field – This event will be held on August 29th. We will have a parade around the outfield at 6 of people in recovery, their families and people in support of those in recovery as the score board displays information about Recovery Month and the 5K/10K Recovery Awareness Run the following week. We will also be throwing out the first pitch to start the game. Tickets for the game are available through BLiR for $10.
2. Getting Dirty to Stay Clean 5K/10K Run and BBQ to be held on September 6th.The run will be called “Recovery Coalition of the Ozarks presents the BLiR Getting Dirty to Stay Clean 5K/10K Trail Run.” Location is yet to be determined. The post-race BBQ will feature live music, bounce houses, games, prizes, face painting and other family friendly fun.
3. Keeping it Clean James River Float Trip and Campout –This event will be at Hooten Town on September 27th and 28th.Saturday evening we will have 3 speakers share their testimonies of long-term recovery as well as live music and BBQ. On Sunday we will start the morning with breakfast followed by a float down the James River and help keep it clean by picking up trash. The day will end with various prizes, including one for the canoe with the most trash picked up based on weight.
4. Multidisciplinary Forum at Missouri State University is in the planning phase. It will be held during the month of September.
5. Outreach Committee– This committee is setting up community service projects that will be completed by people who are in recovery. We are going to Cowden Elementary School on Saturday, May 3rd.We will be painting their playground and picking rocks off of their fields. We will be part of the United Way's Day of Caring event, as well.
Better Life in Recovery is working with multiple treatment providers, people from the Drug and DWI court system as well as various 12 Step and faith-based recovery organizations to reach our goals. Our unity will allow us to have larger events that will make it easier for the community to see that we do recover. The more people we bring out, the easier it is to get positive attention to help offset all of the negative attention addiction generally receives.
We are real people with real problems who have real answers and we are transforming lives by sharing recovery. We are vital pieces of an effective, efficient community. Together we will spread the message that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover. In turn this will promote the message that recovery in all its forms is possible, and encourage citizens to take action to help expand and improve the availability of effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services for those in need.
Our website's address is:www.betterlifeinrecovery.com Our next planning meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 17th at 1 P.M. We will be having the meeting at Day Spring, located at 2157 North Prospect on the second floor.
If there is any way you would like to get involved, whether that means sponsoring an event financially, making donations, volunteering to help set up/clean/entertain at one of the events, or just want to come to them to participate and would like more information reply to this or shoot me an email to: david@betterlifeinrecover.com
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