Portland Celebrates National Recovery Month

9/22/2009 - NEWS ADVISORY
City of Portland
389 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101
www.portlandmaine.gov
CONTACT: Nicole Clegg, 207-756-8173, 207-272-4477 (cell) nicoleclegg@portlandmaine.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2009

Portland Celebrates National Recovery Month
The Overdose Prevention Project, a Program of the City of Portland, Health & Human Services Department, Public Health Division, holds 5th annual Recovery & Wellness Resource Fair

What: Tomorrow, the City of Portland Overdose Prevention Project’s annual Recovery & Wellness Resource Fair will be held for community members accessing Preble Street Resource Center’s many services. The Fair offers access to more than twenty area service providers, free food and a raffle to nearly one hundred people each year.

“We know that addiction is a devastating disease with significant costs to individuals and communities. Holding this event offers participants a unique opportunity to access services they may not use daily and also allows us to spread the message that recovery is possible,” stated Amanda Edgar, of the City of Portland (HHSD) Public Health Division’s Overdose Prevention Project.

National Recovery Month honors the millions of people who are in recovery and highlights that recovery works in our communities as the solution for addiction. This year, various service agencies across Maine will be hosting Recovery Month events. The events are scheduled throughout September and will be held in Bangor, Augusta, China Lake, and Portland.

For more information about the Recovery & Wellness Resource Fair, contact Amanda Edgar, Community Health Specialist for the Overdose Prevention Project at (207) 756-8053 or visit www.facebook.com/portlandprevention.

When: September 23, 2009
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Where: Wayside Soup Kitchen
252 Oxford Street, Portland

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FASD Awareness Day September 9th

From FASDay.com:
Every year on September 9th, International FASD Awareness Day is observed. Proclamations are issued in countries, states, provinces, and towns all around the world. Bells are rung at 9:09 a.m. in every time zone from New Zealand to Alaska. People all around the world gather for events to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy and the plight of individuals and families who struggle with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

The first FASDay was celebrated on 9/9/99. This day was chosen so that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, the world will remember that during the nine months of pregnancy a woman should abstain from alcohol. Anytime is a good time to raise awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

Learn more at: http://fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/pressroom/fasdcoming.cfm

Young People Invited to Submit After-School Projects for Do Something Grants

Do Something and JCPenney have teamed up to support youth-led afterschool programs and projects across the United States.

The program partners will award ten grants of $500 each and five grand-prize grants of $1,000 each to young people who have started afterschool activities that help youth in their community.

Visit the Do Something Web site for complete program information and project posting guidelines.