With two reasons to celebrate — completed renovations and recognition of September as National Recovery Month — the Recovery Zone (RZ) of Logan County hosted a grand reopening event at their south Saint Paris Street facility in Bellefontaine on Friday, Sept. 19.
Attendees enjoyed a meal, family friendly activities, music from the Vibe Tribe, and a chance to hear personal stories of recovery from the RZ team.
The renovations, which included a paved parking lot, were extensive, requiring a complete shutdown of the building from April until the end of June.
“The parking lot had big holes in it,” Kathy Zeller, executive director, said. “So it started with blacktop, as well as replacing furnaces and providing handicap-access basics. Then it grew into a full renovation.”
Since the building is owned by the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Logan & Champaign Counties, the organization helped with funding. That included a community development grant and matching dollars from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OHMAS).
Jon Brown with Residential Administrators worked with the board in gaining funds. Beasley Architecture & Design of Bellefontaine took care of the plans for the building.
Other renovations included recovery-friendly lighting, showers for unsheltered people and a kid space. The latter is a play area for children next to the meeting room so parents can stay near them during a conference.
After three months of work, the ministry reopened the first week of July. Still, the team decided to wait and coordinate the celebration with National Recovery Month.
Jeremy Howell, a member of the Vibe Tribe, which provided music for the event, shared a little of his own recovery story. “I know I wouldn’t be here without people praying for me,” he told the small crowd. The faith-based rap group is based in Marion.
Friday night’s fun included tours of the renovated building, jumping in the Logan County Coalition for Recovery Efforts (CORE) bounce house, face painting by “Art Me Party,” and free tie-dyed t-shirts at the Logan Adult Recovery Court booth. RZ bought the t-shirts and will distribute what’s left over to those who come in for showers or have other clothing needs.
Later that night, the ministry posted their thanks for a successful event on Facebook, stating, “We are so grateful for this team of just beautiful souls that fought so hard for their recovery and love to help others on their path to do the same.”
They dedicated the building as a space for everyone in their recovery community to enjoy. To find out more about the Recovery Zone of Logan County, visit their Facebook page, call (937) 593-9391 or go to recoveryzonelcc.org.
