Local recovery groups offer support, celebrate recovering addicts
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Healing House KC and the Kansas City Recovery Coalition held their eighth annual Family Recovery Day on Saturday.
The free event helped celebrate addicts who have been through recovery and offered some family-friendly fun for everyone to enjoy.
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"Because when people are early in recovery, you know, the family's been fractured," said Bobbi Jo Reed, founder and director of Healing House KC.
"And so to bring everybody together, eat hotdogs, hang out and play, It's just an amazing day. It always fills my spirit!"
The event provided a bounce house for kids, a raffle, plenty of food and even resources for anyone interested in recovering from addiction.
"In each one of these tents represents an organization in our city that is doing work for people that have addiction issues," Reed said.
Members of the Kansas City Municipal Court were even on hand to help folks sort through legal matters.
"We are losing so many people to fentanyl every day. And so, the work we do is not just like changing, but lifesaving," Reed continued.
Charli Waldron is an example of that lifesaving work, having graduated from the Healing House program recently.
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"I was there two months. I graduated, and now I'm coming back to celebrate with everybody," she said.
She told FOX4 that she's living with her daughter now and has been overwhelmed with the support she's received.
"If you want something different, you can live two lives in one lifetime. You know you can do better. You know, because we are better. We can be better."
September is addiction awareness month and Reed says that while the work they do is helping thousands of people, there's still more to be done.
"If you want to get into recovery, we will get you hooked up," she said.
"I mean, nobody has to stay out there and suffer. And people can't afford [expensive] treatment. You come in with what you got, to us. I am the most blessed woman ever. I get to live around miracles every day. All these people represent a way out," she explained.
