Hundreds gathered at Easy Does It, Inc. in Leesport to celebrate recovery at Soberstock 2014 on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 12 to 6 p.m.
September is National Recovery Month, and each year, Easy Does It, Inc., or E.D.I., hosts Soberstock to bring awareness to the community about addiction and recovery.
“Soberstock is an all day event of fun, music and fellowship,” said Jodi Holland, Executive Director at Easy Does It, Inc. “The goal is to spread hope that recovery does happen and offer the public a fun, free event.”
The event offered food, music, activities and vendors both inside and outside of the facility. Staff and residents worked alongside one another to make food, sell merchandise and supervise activities.
Locals Cookie Bard and Stephanie Clauser offered homemade jewelry creations for their first year at Soberstock at their Twinkly by Design Jewelry, while Brad Schweitzer, also a Case Manager at E.D.I., offered fragrant household items from his Scentsy booth.
Cindy Przybeck, a Case Manager at E.D.I., sold handcrafted gourds from her “Out of my Gourd” table. Przybeck has been working for E.D.I. since May and is a person in long-term recovery for 29-and-a-half years.
“I love working here,” she said. “I like the clients and what they represent.”
Przybeck began crafting gourds 12 years ago, after losing her son in a fatal accident. Some of her proceeds go to a scholarship fund run through Exeter High School.
It was Przybeck’s first time as a vendor at Soberstock, although she attended Soberstock years ago when it was held at the Pat Garrett Amphitheater.
Outside, the Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA) had a table set up to offer more information about addiction awareness and recovery events.
COCA works closely with E.D.I. and has been attending Soberstock since it started in 1998. COCA and E.D.I. both celebrate their 25th Anniversaries this year.
“We help with intervention and treatment, as well as funding,” said Tiffani Jones of COCA. “Our job is to advocate for recovery, teach prevention in our schools and monitor facilities to make sure they are using funding properly.”
While attendees visited vendors, ate and enjoyed each other’s company, they also enjoyed music from the Dave Mell Blues Band and Triple Shot, among other performers.
Kids stayed busy with face painting, bounce houses and an arts and crafts table, all supervised by E.D.I. residents and staff.
For all involved, the event was fun, celebratory and educational, which is the goal of E.D.I. each year.
Josh Payne, a new House Manager for the facility, enjoyed his experience.
“The way everything is managed at E.D.I. is different, and this event is great,” said Payne. “I like the atmosphere and the people.”
According to Holland, “E.D.I. is non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life of individuals and families recovering from the disease of addiction.” They offer housing and peer-to-peer services for those in early recovery, among many other services for those seeking recovery.
Easy Does It, Inc. also helped with last weekend’s Walk for Recovery, another event held during National Recovery Month each year.
For more information on Easy Does It, Inc., visit www.easydoesitinc.org.
