Local non-profit organization advocating for recovery to host event in Dayton
Recovery advocate nonprofit FOA Families of Addicts has partnered with El Meson Restaurant for ‘Celebrating Solutions,’ an after-work fundraiser marking two years of progress in promoting recovery, providing support, and encouraging advocacy. The event will take place at El Meson (903 E. Dixie Drive) on Thursday, August 4, from 4:30 – 7 p.m.
Dayton recently made headlines as the nation’s top-ranked city for opiate overdose deaths. Despite this, FOA continues to save lives and positively impact the regional community with support and advocacy across five counties by holding support meetings that welcome anyone touched by addiction to come together for assistance, friendship, and education and providing community outreach throughout the Miami Valley. FOA stands out among mutual aid addiction organizations by providing support for the entire families and empowering individuals to find their voices and tell their stories instead of remaining anonymous, thereby working to eliminate stigmas associated with addiction. In 2016 to date, FOA’s total meeting attendance has increased 31% as FOA prepares for its 3rd annual Rally 4 Recovery on August 28 in Courthouse Square.
“Everybody knows somebody,” said FOA founder Lori Erion. “In a time where deaths and tragedy from opiate addiction are so prevalent, FOA impacts the entire family and we want to celebrate the successes. People can and do recover.”
The El Meson event will offer a host of assorted tapas and soft drinks in an open house-style environment among community partners and supporters as FOA shares its progress. “Mocktails” and cocktails will also be available for purchase.
“Everything we do here is about community and bringing people together,” said El Meson co-owner Bill Castro. “Whether it’s bringing them together through love of good food, the love that family and friends share, or in support of a cause that’s doing important work in the region, at the end of the day, it’s important to us that we help people come together. We’ve been working closely with Families of Addicts, and we’ve come up with a pretty special evening I think will be fitting of their accomplishments.”
Tickets for the event are $30; half of each ticket will go toward FOA’s mission. They can be purchased at Eventbrite.com.
About FOA
FOA’s mission statement is “Embracing families, friends and individuals struggling with addiction in order to promote recovery, provide support and encourage advocacy.” The organization currently holds support meetings in five counties that welcome both loved ones and those seeking or in long-term recovery to come together for support, friendship and education. FOA has recently began a program of peer support and plans to continue growing and fighting for individuals and families affected by addiction. Details about meetings, the Rally and updates on the organization can be found on facebook.com/FOAfamilies or FOAfamilies.org.
