Overview:

The North Quabbin Community Coalition will host its eighth annual Loving Your Recovery event on Feb. 20 at Athol Town Hall. The event aims to reduce stigma and provide opportunities for connection for people interested in learning more about recovery services in the North Quabbin region. The event will offer food, music, and activities, as well as resource tables from 22 agencies.


ATHOL – The North Quabbin Community Coalition [NQCC] will host its eighth annual Loving Your Recovery event with the goal of reducing stigma around addiction and creating new opportunities for connection.

The event will be held on Friday, Feb. 20, from noon to 2 p.m. at Athol Town Hall, 584 Main St., and is open to community members interested in learning more about recovery services in the North Quabbin region.

NQCC Assistant Director Sarah Collins said the event is held in partnership with the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region, along with the North Quabbin Recovery Center and the NQCC.

“What it is, is just a place for people to come and connect with each other and see that recovery is possible and it’s alive and well in our community,” Collins said.

She said the event is open to all community members, including people with lived experience, family members and allies, and is intended to reduce stigma by creating opportunities for conversation and connection.

The Loving Your Recovery event has remained largely consistent over its eight-year history, offering food, music and activities alongside opportunities to connect with local organizations and recovery resources.

This year, Collins said 22 agencies are confirmed to host resource tables, providing information about their programs and engaging attendees through interactive and creative activities.

This year also marks the second time the event has been scheduled during school vacation week, a decision Collins said was made to encourage families to attend together.

“We’re hoping parents and caregivers bring their kids with them,” she said, adding that the event will include activities for all ages, including a musical chairs game that has become a recurring part of the event.

Attendance has fluctuated from year to year, with Collins estimating the event typically draws about 80 to 100 people. No registration is required, and attendees are welcome to drop in at any time.

For Collins, success at this year’s Loving Your Recovery event will be measured by the connections made during the gathering.

“Recovery is connection,” she said. “This is an opportunity to make those connections, have conversations, and decrease stigma.”