SEARHC Behavioral Health is marking National Recovery Month, Domestic Violence Prevention Month and World Suicide Prevention Day with a community potluck at the Nolan Center on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
The gathering, scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., aims to bring residents together to remember those lost to suicide or addiction and to celebrate the people and services supporting recovery.
It marks the second year for the event in town.
Ken Hoyt, cultural healing clinic lead with SEARHC Wrangell Behavioral Health, said the response to last year’s inaugural dinner encouraged him to bring multiple partner agencies on board for this year’s observance.
“This year we have the WCA, the Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp No. 4 and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp No. 1 participating with us,” he said. “There will be some form of representation for each group to answer questions and to speak to people and provide information.”
Wrangell ANS Camp President Sandy Churchill said she had no hesitation about joining the effort when asked.
“I immediately put in an order for 30 long-sleeved orange shirts,” Churchill said.
Orange Shirt Day, observed annually on Sept. 30, honors Indigenous children who survived residential and boarding schools and remembers those who never returned home. Churchill said ANS will give away the shirts during the event.
The potluck is open to the public, and organizers encourage all community members to attend.
