Substance Abuse Family Education (SAFE) members will host their first annual Superhero Gala on Saturday, May 11 at 6 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center on North Main Street in Mocksville.
The evening will include a meal, an inspirational speaker, recognition of SAFE participants and information regarding the program.
The SAFE program seeks to provide support to members of the community who are afflicted and/or affected by substance abuse, behavior afflictions, and/or domestic violence issues and is offering light and hope to anyone who comes their way.
“Addiction to substances and/or behavioral afflictions can affect any individual, from any walk of life. Even family and neighbors in this small community can be ravished by the darkness,” said Jason Ijames, who founded the program after losing a life-long friend to drug addiction in June 2016. “The struggles know no financial or social boundaries.”
SAFE is based on the nationally recognized SMART Recovery system, a life tools approach that focuses on recognizing, facing, and coping with the daily struggles of life. “The tools are helpful to anyone who is looking for a positive approach to overcoming the stressors of life and provides a course of action to overcome and succeed. SAFE members become part of a supporting, loving family that is willing to encourage everyone to become a superhero,” Ijames said. “All are welcome at SAFE.”
The SMART tools are a pathway to behavior change. The SMART discussions are centered on a four-point program that focuses on: 1) Building and Maintaining Motivation; 2) Coping with Urges 3); Managing Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors; 4) Leading a Balanced Life, and can be applied to participants of many ages.
Ijames and his team are planning to open a SAFE house that will provide many additional services to the community. They want to provide counseling, classrooms, job application assistance, life skills assistance, spiritual support, and more to the community.
Help make this dream a reality. The gala will be a celebration of lives that have been changed and a fundraiser to build a foundation to continue to change lives in the future.
Tickets are $25 each and sponsorship opportunities are available.
Contact Jason Ijames 336-970-8574 or 336-692-8588, Benita Finney 336-671-0343, or Koula Black 336-345-5544 for ticket/sponsor information.
Reprinted with permission from the Davie County Enterprise