Easton, MD, July 14th, 2024 - Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. (MSBH), in collaboration with the health departments of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties, is proud to announce the fifth annual “The Mid-Shore is Going Purple Together” event. Scheduled for Saturday, September 14th, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at James T. Park in Caroline County, Going Purple Together (GPT) offers a day of community unity with food, raffle items, music, games, and a focus on supporting recovery from substance misuse. Jessica Tuel, Director of Behavioral Health for the Caroline County Local Addiction Authority stated, "I am very excited for this event to be in Caroline County for the community and the professionals that are in this work. Both are doing wonderful things to end the substance use epidemic in our small county."
This free event is open to all members of the public, including individuals in recovery, those seeking recovery, families and friends affected by overdose, and anyone looking for information or offering support. Attendees can enjoy presentations from speakers in the recovery community, free lunch from local vendors (available to the first 200 attendees), DJ Dave, interactive games, free raffle tickets, face painting, a bounce house, and access to behavioral health resources. Notable giveaways include a Mountain Bike, Lego sets, a Yeti cooler, a wireless portable speaker, and an Electric Ride-On Truck for children.
Aligned with this year’s National Recovery Month theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Are Stronger," Going Purple Together will showcase personal narratives of recovery through speaker presentations and an interactive exhibit facilitated by peers in recovery. Translation services are planned for Spanish and Haitian Creole speaking attendees to ensure that all individuals can engage with and benefit from these empowering stories.
MSBH Behavioral Health Coordinator and Harm Reduction/Peer Outreach Supervisor Ashley Strazza spoke to the significance of the event stating, “So many people are impacted by substance use, misuse, and abuse throughout our region. The stigma can sometimes feel overwhelming not only for people who use drugs, but also their friends, families, and neighbors. Going Purple Together is a collaborative event that allows those who are impacted by substance use and their community, to come together crush stigma and recognize that recovery is possible. This event is quickly becoming a time-honored tradition across the mid-shore to not only acknowledge those in recovery from substance use, but also connect those seeking recovery to community resources and peer support.”
For more information on “The Mid-Shore is Going Purple Together” and other Go Purple events, please visit www.midshorebehavioralhealth.org/training-and-events/midshore-goes-purple. For inquiries, please contact MSBH Marketing and Events Coordinator Cristal Toribio at ctoribio@midshorebehavioralhealth.org, or (410) 714-8731.
As the Core Service Agency for the mid-shore region, MSBH’s mission is to continually improve the provision of behavioral health services for residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot Counties through effective coordination of care in collaboration with consumers, their natural support systems, providers, and the community at large. For more information about MSBH, call 410-770-4801 or visit www.midshorebehavioralhealth.org.
