Alumni from Avenues Recovery Center in Jamison spent a spring morning giving back to the community during a cleanup effort at Tyler State Park on April 26.
About 11 alumni from the recovery program gathered at the park’s Fisherman’s Lot near Almshouse Road to pick up litter along the roadway, bridge and surrounding areas. Armed with trash pickers and feed bags provided by park rangers, the group spent about an hour and a half filling bags with trash collected throughout the area.
Kristy Naughton, alumni coordinator for Avenues Recovery at Bucks in Warwick Township, said the cleanup was part of the organization’s ongoing effort to reconnect people in recovery with the community through volunteer service.
“We are like family here,” Naughton said. “Our goal is to get them into extended care and that way when they leave here they have already built a network, they have already built some relationships inside and outside of this program because we reintroduce them into the community to get them involved and start doing things outside of themselves. It makes it easier for them to transition and continue doing that once they leave here.”
The facility serves men and women ages 18 and older recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Naughton said the volunteer opportunities are not mandatory, but many alumni embrace them because of the positive impact they have on recovery.
The Tyler State Park cleanup was the first volunteer event Naughton coordinated with the park after reaching out to a park ranger about possible community service opportunities.
“Our main facility at Avenues wants every facility to do at least one volunteer event a month for the community to get us involved in the community and show we can bring something to the community,” she said.
Naughton said Tyler State Park was chosen because it is a familiar place for many of the alumni.
“I chose that park because it’s a local park, a local place where a lot of us go to enjoy, so we thought it would be great to give back there,” she said. “Last year we had a kayaking event there.”
According to Naughton, community service can play an important role in helping people maintain sobriety and rebuild their lives.
“It’s important for us to do things for others, to give back to the community,” she said. “I think a lot of us spend a lot of time taking from people and from the community and now it’s our turn to give back.”
She said activities like the cleanup also help strengthen the bonds between participants.
“It makes us feel like we have a purpose, it makes us get out of ourselves and it’s good for us to get together and build that camaraderie and those friendships and bonds we have formed having that common problem,” Naughton said. “It’s a good time for us to get out together and work as a team and do something outside of ourselves.”
Naughton, who has worked in addiction treatment for 12 years, said staying connected through volunteer work and social activities can help improve long-term recovery outcomes.
“Their success in staying sober and clean usually goes up the more they participate in community service and stay connected,” she said. “It gives them a sense of purpose and helps them stay clean and sober. The opposite of addiction is connection, so it’s important to stay connected and community service is one way to stay connected.”
The Tyler cleanup is one of several community service efforts organized through the alumni program. In the past, participants have walked dogs for local animal shelters, prepared meals through Meals on Wheels and attended sober social outings together.
“Anywhere we go we are an example of what sobriety could look like,” Naughton said.
She said she hopes the public sees that recovery can lead to positive change and meaningful contributions to the community.
“I hope people take away that the stigma that is with alcoholics and addicts can change,” Naughton said. “Our goal to stay clean and sober is to get to that positive place and to be a positive example and make a positive impact on our community and to let people know that there is help out there and there is a way out. If they are struggling with themselves or a loved one, don’t give up on yourself and don’t give up on them. We can be productive members of society.”
For more information about Avenues Recovery Center at Bucks, visit www.avenuesrecovery.com/locations/drug-rehab-bucks-county-pa/.
