Local recovery programs are finding ways to not only stay active, but also spread some cheer in the community as safety guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have placed severe limitations on day-to-day activities.
One example is at Friends of Sinners, which is a long-term residential drug recovery program centered on Christ for men and women.
Clients at FoS sent handwritten letters to quarantined senior citizens at a local care facility over the weekend.
Jordan Wilson, development director at FOS, said with all the chaos in the world right now, the ministry thought it would be a good idea to spread some cheer.
The letters are full of encouragement and hope, which is something that is instilled in the clients during their stay at FoS.
Client Kyle Dodd said he hopes the seniors know there are people who are praying for them.
“I wrote and let them know that we were all here thinking about them,” Dodd said. “And we know what they are going through and that they have somebody looking over them.”
Another example can be found at the Owensboro Recovery Project, which is a resource hub that helps people recover from addictions. The organization is hosting an Easter-themed fundraiser called “Egg My Yard” until Saturday.
Volunteers will hide candy-filled eggs in people’s yards for Easter morning. Coordinator Jan Alvey reported that they’ve received $1,700 in orders from “Egg My Yard” over the weekend.
Alvey said she was blown by the response but wasn’t surprised because local support for the recovery community has always been strong.
She said among the calls for orders, only one person had concerns about COVID-19, but the rest were about allergies. Still, the organization plans to have measures in place to be coronavirus safe.
Volunteers will use gloves to prepare orders from start to finish and will practice other safety measures.
“What we plan to do is limit the amount of people who are actually involved in the stuffing of the eggs,” she said. “We’ve already ordered them so that we can get them in and have them soak overnight (in a sanitizer solution).”
To place orders, call 270-903-9163.
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