On Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, Shamrock Park was the sight of “Shining a Light on Recovery”, a family fun event and candlelight vigil sponsored by the Albert P. Close Foundation in partnership with Addiction Connection Resources and the Homecoming Project in order to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse.

The Albert P. Close Foundation was established in 2002 with the goal of closing the gap between needed and existing resources by raising and distributing funds. The Close Foundation provides financial assistance to the Department of Juvenile Services and several qualifying programs such as Family & Children’s Services of Central Maryland-Harford County, Alternative Education Program-Harford County Public Schools, Addiction Connection Resources, inc., and several others. The foundation was able to award $13,500 dollars in 2011 and plans to continue to award grants to deserving organizations in the future.

Addiction Connection Resources (ACR) is meant to be a resource for people suffering from addiction and their families. ACR leads people to support groups, therapists, and other organizations in order to fill the needs of the addict and their family. The Homecoming Project is a halfway house for women for women recovering from substance abuse that seeks to provide a family oriented recovery plan.

The event started at 4:30 p.m. and lasted until 8:30 p.m. At 5:45 p.m., there was a showing of the documentary “Anonymous People” and the event concluded with a candlelit vigil at 7:30 p.m. led by Pastor Craig McLaughlin, in memory of his daughter who passed away from a drug overdose.

Peggy Hugg, an attendee of the event says, “It’s a great thing what these organizations are doing. Around 364 people from Harford County have died from substance abuse and I just think it’s great that these people and their families have somewhere to turn to.”

Shining a Light on Recovery was a big success with over a hundred people attending to show their support. For more information on the Close Foundation visit www.closefoundation.org. For more information about ACR and the Homecoming Project visit www.acr-helps.org and www.homecomingrecovery.org.