Jackson Heights OFWB to hold Addiction Recovery Outreach Saturday

Jackson Heights Original Freewill Baptist Church will hold its first LIVE Addiction Recovery Outreach event Saturday at Pearson Park.

The event will have free food, a performance from the band One Promise and testimony from those who had previously suffered addictions. Jackson Heights Pastor Justin Barnett said he hopes the community comes together for the event and assist those in need.

“The plan is to bring everyone out in Lenoir County and surrounding areas to celebrate recovery,” Barnett said. “Aug. 31 is Overdose Awareness Day and we wanted to try to get an event as close to that as possible. We’ll have members from Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Eastpointe and Hope Restoration out there as well.

"We’re trying to share resources and let (the public) know there’s help and hope available.”

There will also be Narcans available at the event, a medication used to block opiods — especially in overdose. The product is used to reverse overdoses from heroin and other painkillers. The Outreach event will run from 6-10 p.m. and at the end, there will be a candlelight vigil held for those who have lost family and friends to addiction.

Jackson Heights has also held support group meetings every first and third Tuesday evening in its addiction recovery ministry, something Barnett said the church has done for a couple of years.

“The group meets and will usually have testimony, discussions and prayer,” Barnett said. “In our outreach ministry, we try to help cover costs for recovery programs because some people don’t have the insurance or means.”

For more information on the event or program, contact the church at 252-527-4860.