COLUMBUS — St. Peter’s Lutheran Church will host a roaring ‘20s-themed New Year’s party with a strong message to ring in 2020: celebrations can be fun and substance-free at the same time.
Recover Out Loud’s second SoberBash is free and open to all ages and families and will feature music provided by a DJ with dancing, kids’ activities, testimonies and food.
What will be most-importantly missing for many in attendance is alcohol.
“New Year’s Eve is known as a day for people to drink,” said Lisa Pein, the intensive outpatient treatment program manager at St. Peter’s.
“For people in recovery, the holidays are hard in general because of lost relationships — or they might not be connected with family and it can be a lonely time. A lot of families drink — that’s how they celebrate Christmas or New Year’s.”
Recover Out Loud wanted to host a New Year’s event that was safe and fun for families who wanted to celebrate alcohol-free, she said, and SoberBash was born in 2019.
The turnout was excellent for a first-year event, with a group of about 175 people attending.
Recover Out Loud founder John Cunningham said the party was a hit and everyone had a good time — perhaps more than anyone, the kids, who ranged in age from 5 to 17 and played in the gym throughout the night.
Recover Out Loud’s chief objective is aiding the recovery community in finding their passions again — “coming alive again, being normal and free again,” Cunningham said.
“A lot of times you have to find out what your passions are.”
In the recovery community, emphasis is placed on building positive relationships through “pro-social” opportunities — in other words, activities that are social and fun but drug- and alcohol-free.
Recover Out Loud has organized many outdoor excursions aimed at those in recovery throughout the state, such as hiking trips, fundraising walks, and even baking classes around the holiday season to create a spirit of community for people who’ve lost many close connections.
“What Recover Out Loud (emphasizes) is a pro-social lifestyle. We live in a world that isn’t sober, so we try to create avenues and new pathways where everyone can participate,” Cunningham said.
For addicts, building new connections and relationships is among the biggest aspects of staying sober, as most of their friends and relatives have used drugs and alcohol, Pein said.
“A lot of times, when we grew up, families were broken and addiction was exemplified,” Cunningham said. “Holiday memories weren’t all that good. Growing up for me, for New Year’s, you threw a big party and got drunk to ring in the new year.
“We want everyone to know you can still have a good time without using drugs and alcohol when you’re an addict or an alcoholic — it is hard to imagine that you can have a good time without it.”
The New Year’s party is for everyone — anyone who is trying to embrace addicts, who’s been an addict or if recovery has affected you in any way, he added.
“We want to welcome you,” Cunningham said.
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What: SoberBash 2019 New Year’s Party
Where: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 719 Fifth St., Columbus.
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 31 to midnight Jan. 1
Who it’s for: Everyone — all ages. No admission fee.
What to expect: A free community event welcoming those of the recovery community, families, and supporters of recovery. The event will include a DJ, free food, door prizes, a raffle, kids activities and more.
What should I wear? Dress in your roaring ’20s attire or support your recovery program by wearing a program tee shirt.
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Learn more about Recover Out Loud by visiting itsawethingrecoveroutloud.com or calling 812-318-0122.
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