SEARCY, Ark. (Azat TV) – The Searcy Police Department is set to host its fifth annual recovery picnic on July 24, an event aimed at bridging the gap between community members struggling with addiction and local recovery support services. The gathering will take place at Berryhill Park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Kelli McHughes, a recovery advocate celebrating 10 years of sobriety, emphasized that the event serves as a tangible reminder that support systems exist within the community. According to McHughes, the picnic aims to combat the stigma often associated with addiction by fostering peer-to-peer connections and highlighting lived experiences as a tool for healing.
“Peer recovery is about using our lived experience to help other people,” McHughes said, noting that the initiative provides a platform for those who have navigated challenges like incarceration, family separation, or homelessness to share their journeys. Over the past five years, McHughes has observed a marked increase in community engagement, particularly through the police department’s dedicated peer recovery Facebook page.
The event will feature guest speakers, including local law enforcement officials and the mayor. A particularly poignant segment of the evening will include a story from a woman who recently lost her sister to an overdose, underscoring the urgency of the cause. The program will also feature the “big recovery countdown,” a tradition where attendees form a circle based on their years of sobriety, ranging from decades of recovery down to 24 hours.
The picnic is open to the public, and organizers encourage attendees to bring lawn chairs. In addition to the program, the event will host various vendors providing resources, alongside food, music, and raffle prizes.