By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Braving frigid temperatures and less than stellar weather nearly 100 people turned out Saturday for the annual Community Care March.
The march was held in New Washington this year and supports services to deal with addiction problems that have plagued the area. Starting at the American Legion in New Washington, the marchers went down Kibler Street to Buckeye Central.
Marching in the previous three marches, Chris Fike turned out for a fourth straight year.
“It is a really good cause because there is a need in the area and people need to be aware of the problem, and I think they are.” Fike said.
In her first march Maryhaven counselor Paula Brown explained the importance of the march.
“The community is coming together and addressing an issue that is usually hidden and shrouded in secrecy,” Brown said. “I think it is just wonderful.”
Prior to the march starting Pastor Scott Blevens led the group in prayer.
Once the Community Care March made its way to Buckeye Central, the marchers congregated indoors in the school’s Multipurpose Room to listen guest speakers and receive information on the many avenues of recovery offered through various organizations.
“A lot of times when people become addicted they feel that no one loves them, or that no one cares,” Blevens said to the crowd. “But we do care, we do love and we want to show them that there is hope.”
The keynote guest speaker for the Community Care March was Columbus resident Sherry Walter who unveiled the “Recovery is Beautiful” campaign.
In her speech, Walter told her story of drug and alcohol abuse causing her to lose her scholarship for her master’s degree, but it wasn’t until her employer told her to get sober or get fired she got serious about sobriety. Walter spoke to the crowd saying that she is 32 years into her recovery.
“I was very lucky to have supportive friends, and to have been able to have a job working in the field of recovery,” Walter said. “Almost my entire career I have talked about the system and not my personal life. Now I am merging the two. The best way I can help is to tell my story and show that recovery is beautiful.”
“We have to help people, offer support to them and celebrate their recovery. You know best what Crawford County needs.”
Walter closed her speech by saying, “Recovery happens different for everybody. It doesn’t matter how you get there it is important that you get there.”
Pastor Joe Stafford from Galion’s Wesley Chapel spoke to the crowd about what he hears when counseling people on the path to recovery.
“Every time I hear an addict about recovery it is if they feel that no one cares, but there are people who do, and marches like this show that,” Stafford said.
Together We Hurt Together We Heal co-founder Mary Jean Hensley spoke before the crowd.
“With life comes hope of recovery. We never have to give up hope,” Hensley said. “Sometimes our judgmental attitudes don’t help, but block out people who need the help.”
Prior to the event ending pastors attending the Community Care March had attendees join hands and led the group in the Lord’s Prayer.