It's often said that when an addict chooses to get sober, they also need a new crowd of friends.
Boundless can be that new group of sober-living friends and invites those in recovery from substance abuse and their families to Winona Lake Park on Sept. 1.
The event starts at 3 p.m. and goes until 6 p.m. It will include a picnic lunch, water sports, boat rides and tubing on the lake and other activities. Registration is required, but the event is free.
This will be the first of continued Boundless events, said Kevin Haines, executive director of A Bridge To Hope. A Bridge To Hope and Shelly Metzger organized the new group after Metzger visited Denver, Colo., and saw a similar group there for people in recovery and their families.
"We're trying to create clean events for people, because there aren't any," Haines said, adding all Boundless events will be kid friendly.
Future events will include bowling, skating, fitness classes, arts and crafts, Frisbee golf and a multitude of other events in all seasons.
"We need to have community activities continuing throughout the year," Metzger said. "It just makes you feel normal. It's not another program that you have to attend. Unfortunately, some of the folks, they don't have family, or if they do it's broken or they’re deep into addiction themselves."
To attend the Sept. 1 event, or for more information, call 856-807-HOPE, call Metzger at 260-249-7302, or visit the Boundless Facebook page. The event is a sober event, and Metzger said there will be "sober bouncers" for anyone who decides to show up impaired.
"People in recovery need a tribe of people that they can just go play Frisbee golf with and have a campfire in a sober living atmosphere," Metzger said. Boundless strives to provide just that.
Local businesses Spoonful of Imagination Art Studio, CrossFit Haymaker, Giverny Fitness and Grace College have already offered time and resources to Boundless events. More sponsors are welcomed, Haines said.
